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F^KST^IV^L^ 



OF THE 



SEPTUAGEMRIiNS, 

BORIN SIN 1834: 

HELD AT 

F"ryefc)urg, Maine, 

A.LJ^. Qthi, IQ04. 



,^... FRYEBURG: 
Arp. LEWIS, Publisher, 
1904. 






PRYBDlRli WEBST&R MEMORIAL, Illustrated; 

Containiug Webster's Fryeburj^^ Oration, several letters and poems 
written by Webster while in college and at F'rytburg — poems ly 
Longfellow (on Lovewell's Fight), V.'hittiei , Henry Bernard Carpen- 
ter, and several other poems specially written for the Memorial. 
Sent, post paid, 50 cents. 

Webster's Fryeburg Oration, post paid, 15 ceiits. 



PROCBBDir^GS OF TRYEBURG WEBSTER CEM- 

TEPSINS;^!!., JAN. Iftt, 1902. 

•■\ 100 Page Pamphlet. Illustrated. 

It contains three Addresses, by Prof. Chas. G. Willard, the His- 
torical Address on Webster, by A. F. Lewis, one of the Trustees of the 
Academy, and that of Prof. W. A. Robinson, Master of the Boston 
Latin School upon Webster the Educator, and the History of Webs- 
ter's Services at Fryeburg Academy, from the Academy Reco'-ds; the 
Poem, the Long-Lost, Unpublished Letters of Washington, Adams, 
and Jefferson, written to Preceptor Cook, (supposed to have been 
burnt in the Academy more than 50 years ago); Letters of Webster; 
List of Academy Teachers; Distinguished Academy Graduates; His- 
toric Houses of the Village; Persons, Places, Events, and Beautiful 
Drives in and about the Town. A pleasant Souvenir of Fryeburg and 
a valuable Brochure for Libraries, as well as individuals, on account 
of the Local History it contains. 

Sent post paid, 50 cts. 



TESTIVAE 

of the 

FRYEBURG SEPTUAGENARIANS 

Auft. 9th, 1904-. 

Containing the Addresses of Hon. Frank B. Sanborn, L. W. Small, 
Dr. Gordon, Gen, E. C. Farrington, Charlotte Thomas, Prof. W. A. 
Robinson, E. S. Osgood, Thos. J. Allard and A. F. Lewis— a hundred 
letters of congratulation, and about 30 poems— together with bio- 
graphical sketches of the thirteen Septuagenarians and full Press ac- 
counts of the joyous jubilee. 

The pamphlet has about 200 pages, and contains half- tone pictures 
of Gen. Farrington, Sam'l and Wni. Gordon, Lewis, Weston, Wood- 
ward, Allard, Booth, Towle and Sanborn. Price 50 cts. 

A. F. LEWIS, Fryeburg, Maine. 




WILLIAM GOKDON. 

JOHN WESTON. 
JASON W, TOWLE. 
ABEL F. SANBOKN. 



SAMUEL GOEDON. 
Gen. E. C. FAERINGTON. B. B. WOODWARD. 

A. F. LjfewiS. THOMAS J. ALLARD. 

GEORGE F. BOOTH. 



PRHFACE. 



In the autumn of 1903 a citizen of Fryeburg thought it 
would l)e a capital idea to invite hit? brother and .sister 
ISeptuagexakians of the town to take note of their passage 
acro.s«s the Psahnist'.s line of ''Three 8coie and Ten". The 
idea and plan of carrying it out wan somewhat novel in 
Fryeburg, but the more he th<jught of it the morefavorabi}' 
he was impressed with the idea. Accordingly, the 9th of 
Aug. was selected for the meeting of the festival, and a 
printed letter of invitation was sent out to friends far and 
wide. The prompt andjoyous response to the letter showed 
him at once that he had "made a hit"- 

Quite a number of friends from Portland and from Mass., 
and N. Y., some of whose birthdays antedated that of ours, 
but whose talent in the line of song, of oratory, and enter- 
tainment showed them to be in the full zenith of their musi- 
cal and mental powers, cajne upon the invitation of the said 
citizen, and the pleasure they gave us will abide as long as 
memory lasts. 

We cannot refrain from personal mention of our kind 
friends, and thanking them most heartily for their great 
generosity in coming to Fryeburg, some from a long dis- 
tance, and giving to the vSeptuagenarians and their friends 
such a choice, charming and delightful entertainment. 

They are Hon. Frank B. Sanborn of Concord, Mass., 
John W. Hutchinson of Lvnn, Mrs. Hale Jacobs of Mai- 
den, L W. Small of N. Y., Geo. A. Thomas, Charlotte J. 
Thomas, Atherton Furlong, Miss Kaloola Loveitt and Ed- 
ward S. Osgood of Portland. 

Great good fortune attended this celebration from its in* 
ception to its final close. The weather was perfect — all the 
[)r()mised guests appeared, and each and all were immense in 
their several roles. All friends were so kind and helpfnl, and 
determined to make the Birthday celebration of The Septu- 
agenarians a grand success, and an event that will linger 
long in the halls of memory. 



(2) 



LETTER OF INVITATION. 



1834. 1904. 

"Old friend, though many a year hath flown, 

And we have somewhat wiser grown, 

Since you and I first met — 

The love that in our bosoms grew 

When life was rosy, fresh and new 

Is blooming brightly yet." 

My dear friend : — 

This is to apprise you not of "The Transit of Apollo," 
but of the transit of your friend Lewis across the Psalmist's 
line of "three score and ten." It seems incredible and yet 
in my early home there is an old family Bible that says I 
made my entree u[)on the stage in 1834, June 23d. At 
this late day I don't like to seem i<Jiep(ical and begin to 
doubt that old Bible record. The years that transfer one 
from youth and early manhood to old age have stolen along 
so quietly, so peacefully, and, 1 may say, so pleasantly, 
that the time that to ordinary mortals brings old age is at 
my door, and I am all unconscious of the fact. 'Tis true 
that I have been playing at old age for many a year with no 
appreciable intimation of its presence, and it may be that 
my ])uoyant health, the wide berth I have given physicians, 
and my freedom from corroding care and anxiety, due to 
the fact that I have never been burdened with houses, lands, 
and worldly goods, have brought me to "Nirvana" before 
my arrival at the Great Divide. 

I am as yet conscious of but few of the infirmities that ac- 
company old age. True, there is a bouquet of apple-blos- 



Bonis on niv chin, and on my head a fc^^' silverv hair.s scat- 
tered anionii' those of the orininal coh>r, hut my eyes still 
behold and delight in the j)retty pictures of which the world 
is so full, my ears are not deaf or dull to the "concord of 
sweel sounds" that come from the human voice oi" that are 
Wreathed in the tones of Nature's varied symphony. I sleep 
well o'nifihts, uiy digestion is jjood, my teeth are native 
and intart, I walk without crutch or cane — in fine, I am 
(juite a youno- old gentleman. On the evenini; of August 
l)th, come and see me and my townspeople of Fryeburg-, 
who were horn in '34 — and if we don't show you the gayest, 
liveliest and most jocund set of 70-year-old boys and girls 
you ever saw, we will treat you to the best the town aflords. 
A most cordial invitation is given you to be piesent at the 
anniversary and celel)ration of our 7()th birthday. 

There will be a program of songs, recitations, odes, 
poems, letters and greetings with many l)rief and breezv 
addresses from guests from near and far. 

Judge Enoch Knight of Los Angeles, Prof. Ebenezer 
Knowlton and Cora L. Colbroth of 8an Francisco, Judire 
A. H. Walker of Bridgton, Gen. E.G. Farrington, Prof. 
L. C. Bateman, George and Charlotte Thomas, and, with his 
tiddle, the Old Bard, John W. Hutchinson, the last survi- 
vor of the Hutchinson Family which delighted the world 
with their songs for nearly 50 years, are expected to be 
present, xlrtemus Ward, born in oar neighboring town, 
was a 'o4 boy, and, though he is not expected to be present 
in person, Ave trust that in "spirit" he will be with us, and 
wnth all his accustomed merriment and honliornie, help us 
to "intoxicate the shunning bowl". 

If for any reason you are not able to be present, we shall 
expect a greeting in prose or poetic form, as best suits your 
pleasure. 

Very cordially, 

A. F. LEWIS. 



(4) 

PRESS NOTICES. 



Portland Press, Aug. J 0th. 

SEPTUAGENARIANS. 

Fryeburg^s Aged Men Celebrate Birihdays. 

Unique Occasion In Old Town. 

1834 Was a Great Year For Births and Marriages. 

Fryeburg, Aug. 9. — This evening a large company gath- 
ered at the New Church Hall to attend the far famed celebra- 
tion of the septuagenarians' birthday. It was one of the 
most unique atRiirs ever held in this town. 

According to the records of Fryel)urg and of the adjoin- 
ing town of Conway, N. H., 1834 was a noted year on ac- 
count of the many marriages and births recorded. A num- 
ber of those children have reached the age of 70 years. 
Some still live in their native towns, while others have wan- 
dered away to find homes in other states. At the sugges- 
tion of A. F. Lewis, those who live in the vicinity concluded 
to select a date that was most convenient for all interested, 
and have an Old Home evening in Fryeburg village. It was 
decided to hold the festival on this evening aiid an interest- 
ing: proaram consistino; of brief addresses, the readino- of 
letters, poems, music, etc., was arranged. Invitations had 
been sent to many friends far and near beginning as follows : 

1834—1904: 
"Old friend, though many a year hath flown, 
And we have somewhat wiser grown, 

Since you and I first met — 
The love that in our bosoms grew 
When life was rosy, fresh and new 

Is blooming brightly yet." 

[Here follow several letters, found elsewhere]. 

The New Church Hall was decorated for the occasion with 



everirreen trees, ferns, gcjlden rod, nasturtium blossoms, 
Kninches of ripe cherries and evergreen. These were elnh- 
orate and were arranged with artistic taste ; the two colors, 
— green and gold, — beautifully symbolized the memories of 
the past and the hopes of the future. 

The festival was a very interesting occasion and the even- 
ing was tilled with song and words of congratulation and 
irood cheer. 



Portland Press, Aug. IJth. 

Conclusion of the Interesting Celebration at Fryeburg. 

Tuesday. 

Fryeburg, Aug. 10. — On Tuesday evening, Aug. 9, the 
New Church hall was tilled to overtlowiiiir with the friends 
of the 13 f?eptuagenarians, who then celebrated their 7()th 
birthdays. 

After an informal reception and a social hour the people 
were called to order for the purpose of listening to the 
literary and musical entertainment, by A. F. Lewis, chair- 
man of the executive committee of the Sons and Daughters 
of 1834. After a brief opening address, he read the letter 
of invitation that had been sent out and called upon Gen. E. 
C. Farrington of Augusta to make the address of welcome 
in behalf of the septuagenarians. Samuel Gordon and 
Thomas J. Allard, sons of '34, also made brief addresses. 
The principal address of the evening wasi delivered by Hon. 
F. B. Sanborn of Concord, Mass., who spoke about The 
Langdons of New Hampshire and Maine, with special refer- 
ence to Paul Langdon. the tirst preceptor of Fryeburg 
Academy. Other brief addresses were made by Lauriston 
W. Small of New York, E. S. Osgood, an old pupil of Mr. 
Lewis when he taught school many years ago in district No. 



2, Fryehurg, Dr. S. C. Gordon, Prof. W. A. Eobinson, 
Miss Charlotte Thomas, John Hutcliinson and ]\Jr. Furh)ng. 

The addresses were tilled witli wit and humor and many 
reminiscences of other days when we were "young and 
happy" were given. Poems were read by Mr. Furlong and 
Mr. Lewis. The one read hy {lie latter was \Yiitten for 
this occasion by Ina Coolbrith, the California i)oetess. ^Ir. 
Lewis also read a letter from Ebenezer Knowlton of Cali- 
fornia, once a teacher in Fryeburg's noted school. 

The musical numbers of the entertainment consisted of a 
duet, I AVould That ]\Iy Love, sung by A. F. Lewis and Mrs. 
Hale Jacobs, which they sang together 15 years ago and 
which was re{)eated tliis evening by request. [In inti-odue- 
ing this number of the program. Mr. Lewis said: 'When 
Artemus Ward was in London giving his famous lectures 
upon "The Mormons," "The Babes in the Woods," and "His 
Seven Grandmothers," with those dignitied Lords, John 
Bright, Sir Robert Lowe, and Gladstone sitting before him 
he had the coolness and assurance, not to say audacity, to 
announce to his audience that if they would come to his 
lectures the next evening two tine songs would be sung — 
the title of the first would be : Father Dear Father, Have You 
Any Fine Cut About You— the title of the second one was : 
Mother, Dear Mother, I've Come Home To Die By Request. 

My good friend, Mrs. Jacobs, has consented for me to 
stand at her side and pretend to sing. I hope after this 
number of the program none of you will l)e so unkind as to 
say : Mr. Lewis, go home and (iie l)y request.] Miss Love- 
itt sang AVhen Sylvia Comes Sauntering By, and Coming 
Thro' the Ra'c. George A. Thomas sang Rocked in the 
Cradle of the Deep, to his own accompaniment, and gave 
a laughing song accompanied by ]\Irs. Abl)ott. Atherton 
Furlong sang two solos entitled, I love Her So, and Talk- 
ing in My Sleep. 

The musical program closed with singing of the words 



(7) 

written for Geo. Thomas' 84th birthday, to the air of Baby 
Mine, Mr. Furlong singinir the solo and the audience join- 
ing in at intervals at the refrain, Uncle George, Uncle 
George. 

One of the special features of the evening was the })res- 
ence of the famous singer, John W. Hutchinson of Lynn, 
Mass., the last survivor of the celebrated Hutchinson family. 
He gave the well-known song, We Have Come Fromtlie Old 
Granite State, and a comic selection, entitled Cahmiel. He 
played his own accompaniments — to the first song on the 
piano, and the second on the violin. 

Miss Thomas, in a brief address of congratulation, pre- 
sented to Mr. Lewis a beautiful basket of pinks and roses. 
His friends of the C. L. S. C. also gave him a fine copy of 
Tennyson's })oems bound in leather. A tine birthday cake 
was presented to him by Mrs. Newman ; a pretty picture of 
Portland Harbor from his friend James C. Burnham, and a 
handsome boquet w^as given him by another friend. 

During the evening punch and fancy cakes were served by 
Misses Mollie Gordon, Mary Woodward, Mary Gordon and 
Susanna Weston, the younger daughters of the septuagena- 
rians, while Mrs. William Post and Miss Hattie Woodward, 
the elder daughters, arranged the beautiful floral decorations. 
Misses Emma and Kate Towle w ere also connected with the 
committee of arrangements. 

This was a unique entertainment, and it is said to be 
doubtful if it could be duplicated or even equalled anywhere 
else in its characteristic musical and literary features. It 
afforded much pleasure to all present. At the close of the 
septuagenarian celebration at the New Church hall there 
w^as a social at The Argue Not. Messrs. Hutchinson, Geo. 
A. Thomas, Charlotte Thomas, Atherton Furlong, Miss 
Loveitt and Miss Varnum of Portland, with Mr. Lewis, and 
Mrs. Needham of Oneida, N. Y., made things lively and 
cheery. Stories, recitations, music, merriment and fun 



(8) 

were the order of the day, und indeed, it was one of the 
liveliest times that Fryeburo; has ever seen or heard. 

Lunch was served and the sentiment of the evening was 
"We wont go home 'till morning," which came near being 
literally fulfilled. 

This morning a drive to the battle-ground at Lovowell's 
pond was given to the Portland guests, accompanied by 
Mrs. Hale Jacobs of Maiden, Mass., and Mr. Hutchinson of 
Lynn, and the streets of the village and the woods resounded 
and echoed with the songs of the jolly party. 

This afternoon, a musicale was given by the guests of the 
party at the Oxford. 

They were entertained this evening at the residence of 
Dr. Gordon. Music and recitations were given, and punch 
and light refreshments were served. The Portland guests 
of the septuagenarians and other friends were present. 

A poem written by John S. Barrows was read by his 
mother, Mrs. G. S. Barrows. 



Eastern Argus, Aug, lOth. 

Happy Affair. 

The Birthday Celebration of Esteemed Fryeburg Man. 

A Rare Occasion with Some Unusual Features. 

Fryeburg, Me., Aug. 9.— The celebration this evening at 
the New Church Hall on Main street, opposite the Oxford 
Hotel, of the 70th birthday anniversary of A. F. Lewis, 
Esq., and incidentally that of twelve other individuals who 
were born in 1834 in Fryeburg or vicinity, was aver}' pleas- 
ing occasion. The names of the other septuagenarians, all 
of whom were present, are William Gordon, Samuel C. 
Gordon, Gen. E. C. Farrington, Bradley B. Woodward, 
John Weston, Jason W. Towle, George Booth, Abel F. 



(9)' 

Sanborn, Thomas J. Allard, Miss Abbie N. Page, Mrs. 
Julia Devine Page, Olive J. Swan. 

The attendance numbered nearly 400, and quite filled the 
hall, which had been tastefully decorated with garlands, 
flowers and potted plants for the occasion. The doors of 
the hall were thrown open at 7.30 and soon every seat was 
occupied and extra chairs had to be brought in. The first 
feature of the program was the serving of choice refresh- 
ments, including three large bowls of punch, whose palatable 
contents were dispensed by a corps of gaily attired and win- 
some ladies. 

At the evening exercises A. F. Lewis presided and made 
the opening address. 

Brief speeches followed from Thomas J. Allard of Con- 
way, N. H., Samuel C. Gordon, Frank B. Sanborn of 
Concord, Mass., L. W. Small of New York, E. S. Osgood 
of Portland, Dr. S. C. Gordon, Miss Charlotte Thomas of 
Portland and others. 

Solos were sung by George A. Thomas of Portland and 
John Hutchinson of the famous family of singers. 

Mr. Lewis and Mrs. Hale Jacobs of Maiden sang a duet. 

Mr. Lewis was presented with a large birthday cake, a 
basket of beautiful roses by Charlotte J. Thomas, and a fine 
edition of Tennyson's poems by the Frj^eburg Chautauqua 
Club. 

[Several letters follow here which appear elsewhere] . 



(10) 
Portland Evening Express, Augf. 9th. 

Novel Birthday Party at Fryeburg. 

Alonzo F. Lewis is the Leading Spirit. 

Thirteen Who Have Attained the Age of Seventy To 

Observe the Occasion. 

Congratulations Are Received. 

Distinguished Persons Extend Good Wishes to *^The 

Gayest, Liveliest and Most Jocund Set of 70 Year 

Old Boys and Girls you Ever Saw'^ as Mr. ■ 

Lewis^ Unique Invitation Says. 

Fryeburg, Aug. 9th. — In the New Church hail this even- 
ing there is to occur one of the most novel birthday parties 
ever held in this or any other state. 

Mr, A. F. Lewis, wlio attained the age of three score 
and ten on June 23, 1904, began as the day approached to 
look about and note how many of his fellow townspeople 
had reached the "alloted time". There were no less than 
13 and it was decided to unite in a birthday party in Old 
Home Week on the evening of Aug. 9th. 

The general committee of arrangements is Mrs. Post, 
Hattie Woodward, A. F. Lewis, Gen. E. C Farrington, 
Wm. Gordon, Susanna Weston, Mary Woodward, Mollie 
Gordon, and Kate and Emma Towle. Under their super- 
vision the hall has been beautifully decorated and "the best 
the town affords" will be spread before the guests. A re- 
ce{»tion will be held, at which greetings are to be exchanged 
and congratulations presented. As Mr. Lewis in his unique 
invitation says, they are "the gayest, liveliest, and most 
jocund set of 70-year-old boys and girls you ever saw." 
They have assisted in tlie preparation and are looking for- 
ward to the evening with the keenest anticipation of delight 



(11) 

The fofinal ex«Mvises will include iiddresjses by Hon. F. 
B. SinI)orn, Dr. G jnlon, fFohn \V. Hutchinson, Athcrton 
Furlonir, Charlotte J. Thomas, A. F. Lewis and Thos. J. 
Allard. ,r()hii W. Hutchinson, Geo. A. Thomas, Mrs. Hale 
Jacobs, AFiss Loveitt and Atherton Furlong will sing. 
.\[rs. A. M. Abl)>jtt, accompanist. [Here follow the names 
from whom other letters and poems have been received.] 
Mr. Lewis is receiving many congratulations on the clever 
idea in the carrying out of which he has had the heartiest 
co-operation of every one of his septuagenarian cotempora- 
ries. 

The Ex:i'Rp:ss otiers Tiny Tim's toast. 



Boston Globe, August 9th. 

Prominent Sons and Daughters of Fryeburg^ Me., 
Meet on Invitation of A. F. Lewis to Mark Their 
Reaching Three-Score-and-Ten. 

Fryel)urg, Me., Aug. 8. Thirteen of the children ])orn 
in 1834 are to celebrate the attainment of three-score-and- 
ten I^y a grand reunion to-morrow in which many distin- 
guished men are to have a part. In June, A. F. Lewis, 
Fryeburg's widely known son issued an invitation to the 
interesting function which takes place to-morrow. The in- 
vitatit)n was sent to all those friends who have gone out from 
Fryel)urg, and their response has been immediate and en- 
thusiastic. [This number of the Globe printed the letter 
of invitation, with biographical sketches of each of the Sep- 
tuagenarians, and had pictures of the ten men, Farrington, 
Lewis, Woodward, Towle, Booth, Weston, Allard, San- 
born, and Stmi'l and Wm. Gordon.] 



(12; 



Boston Globe, Awg. JOth. 



Happy Occasion — Qiildren of J 834 at Fryeburg, Me* 

A. F. Lewis presides, and Speeches are Many. 

Letters Read from Several Distinguished Men. 

Fryehurg, Aug. 9. — The reunion and celebration of the 
13 children who were born in the immediate vicinity of 
Fryel>urg in 1834, held in the New Church hall to-night was 
one of the most remarkable gatherings ever assembled in 
Me. It was a joyous, enthusiastic, ins])iring company of 
friends, all bound by a common tie. 

A. F. Lewis, for 50 years, a leading citizen of Fryeburg, 
who, through his untiring efl'orts made the reunion possible, 
presided at the meeting. Mr. Lewis is himself one of the 
"'34" boys. He expressed his joy at the good will displayed 
by the company of friends present, and hoped that they all 
might meet at the next reunion. He then spoke of the 
large number of letters, poems and greetings that had come 
in response to the invitation which he sent out in June. 
[Here follow extracts from many letters, with interesting 
incidents of the evening, which appear elsewhere.] 



Eastern Argus, Aug. JI. 

Jolly Sequel. 
What followed the Novel Birthday Party at Fryeburg. 

Fryci)urg, Me., Aug. 10. After the successful celebration 
of the Septuagenarians last evening at the New Church Hall 
the friends from Portland, Geo. A. and Charlotte Thomas, 
Miss Yarnum, Atherton Furlong, Miss Loveitt, John W. 
Hutchinson, A. F. Lewis and Mrs. Needham of Oneida, N. 
Y., made things cheerful for two hours at the Arsrue Not 



(13) 

Hotel. Stories, recitations, music, merriment and fun were 
the order of the day, and the Birthday celebration was fol- 
lowed hy one of the liveliest times Fryeburg has ever seen 
or heard. Luncii was served and the sentiment of the even- 
ing was, "We wont go home till morning", which came 
near being literally fulfilled. Tlds morning a drive to the 
Battle Ground was given to the Portland guests, accom- 
panied by Mr. Hutchinson, Mrs. Jacobs, Mrs. Needham and 
A. F. Lewis, and the streets of the village and the woods re- 
sounded and echoed with the bongs and laughter of the jolly 
party. 

This afternoon a musicale was given at The Oxford by 
the guests of the Septuagenarian birthday party. 

This evening the tinal round of the good times in connec- 
tion with the Septuagenarians and their friends came off at 
the summer home of Dr. Gordon, where they received a- 
cordial welcome, and were made to feel that they owned the 
Doctor, his home and the town as well. There was a de- 
lightful entertainment of songs, recitations and a most en- 
joyable social time. Punch and light refreshments were 
served. 



Oxford Democrat, Attg* 2* 

FRYEBURG, 

On Tuesday evening, Aug 9th, in New Church Hall, 13 
lesidents of this vicinity, who were born in 1834, are to 
have a joint celebration in commemoration of the 70th anni- 
versary of their natal year. The idea of sudi a celebration 
was first broached by A. F. Lewis of this town (who, by 



(14) . 

the way, was born on ffune 23d, 1^:^34, in the near-by hanilet 
of East Conway, N. H.,j and Mr. Lewis has been the lead- 
ing spii-it in preparing the program of exercises for the occa- 
sion, though his fellew septuagenarians have taken a d( ep 
interest in the celebration and have made many heli)ful 
suggestions with a view to insuring its success. The formal 
pai't of the program for the celeluation will consist of music, 
of brief addresses from invited guests, and from some of 
the septuagenarians in commemoration of whof-e natal years 
the celebration is to be held, and of the reading of letters 
from persons unal>le to be present and of poems s]K-cially 
wiitten for the occasion. Preceding the formal jiart of the 
evening's program, there will be an informal hour or more 
for the exchange of social greetings, for indulgerjce in remin- 
iscences of occurences many years agone, and, in general, 
■for a do-as-one-pleases good time. 

Among those who have been invited to honor the occasion 
with their presence are F. B. Sanborn of Concord, Mass., 
the well known author ; Geo. Thomas, Charlotte Thomas, 
Atherton Furlong and Clara Marcelle Greene of Poitland ; 
and, with his fiddle, John W. Hutchinson of Lynn, the last 
survivor of the famous Hutchinson family of temperance 
minstrels. If Mr. Sanborn shall be present at the celebra- 
tion he will give an address upon Rev. Samuel Langdon, 
who for six years was president of Harvard College, and 
upon his son, Paul Langdon, who was the first preceptor of 
our academy. 



(15) 



ADDRESSES. 



ADDRESS OF A. F. LEWIS. 

Fellow Septiuiuennrians, Distinjxuished Guests and Friends : 
England is celebrating the centenary of Thackeray : 
France, of George Sand ; America, of Hawthorne ; (and one 
of the distinguished participants in that celebration from old 
Concord is one of our honored guests to-night), and Fnje- 
burg is celebrating the birtlaluij of Iter Sepiuagenarians ! 
Occasionally a year stands out as prolific in the production 
of prodigies. 1809 was one of those years, wdien appeared 
Lincoln, Gladstone, Dr. Holmes, Mrs, Browning, Tennyson, 
Poe, Darwin, Chopin and Mendelssohn. That year almost 
equalled 1834, when api)eared the Fryeburg Septuagenar- 
ians. Here's Booth, the man of histrionic talents. Who 
knows if he had cultivated his natural dramatic ability l)ut 
that he would have equalled his more celebrated cousin, the 
great tragedian, Edwin Booth. Here's our General Far- 
rington, representative, senator, lawmaker, counsellor, the 
Col., no^v the Gen., (promoted for gallant conduct on the 
field of the Septuagenarians) ,—ii he is not "First in War, 
he is First in Peace, and First in the hearts of his Septua- 
genarian Countrymen". Here are our two Solons, and law- 
makers. Woodward and Allard of N. H. (That N. H. is a 
great state to be born in ; our friends Sanborn, the author 
and Historian. Hutchinson, the minstrel, Woodward, Allard, 
Booth, and one of our bright Pages, and myself were born 
over there). There's Towle, the teacher in the East and 



(16) 

the West ; and Weston and Sanborn, the farmers and fruit 
growers. Then we have the famous Gordon Twins. They 
are celebrated, and they have given fame and distinction to 
their brotlier. Dr. Gordon. Samuel is a speaker at town 
meetings, and sometimes his eloquence is heard on the 
streets. It takevS some sreat subject to rouse hin) ; but once 
roused, he "makes the welkin ring. Then there is the 
other Twin, William — the all-round man — the man of di- 
versified talents — the fai-mer — the surveyor of lumber and 
dealer in the same, the auctioneer, the story-teller, the 
Postmaster, head officer of the village corporation, chair- 
man board of Selectmen, the Father of the town — in fine. 
The Lord Mayor of Fryeburg ! 

We have only three girls — "The Three Graces". If 1 
might quote a little : 

"O was for Osgood, who vanisherl one morning in mystery, 
And P was two Pages, the brightest in history" '-" 
We have the two bright Pages. The other, my twin, Olive, 
used to live down on the Swan-y River, not the Suwanee 
down in Florida, but on the Swan-y Saw, that meanders 
through the Fryeburg intervales, near the falls of that name, 
which day and night sing their soft lullaby. 

It was said of that noted wit and raconteur^ the late Col. 
Tom Ochiltree of Texas : "To know him was a joy — to 
meet him was an inspiration — and to be his intimate friend 
was an education." We Septuagenarians are none of us 
orators or university men, or women ; but ire were horn and 
have lived 'in Frijeburg — and graduated from Daniel Webfi- 
fers college, which stands just below us on the Main street 
of our village. From this comes our Coat of Arms. 

To be pelted with roses, bouquets, birthday cakes, greet- 
ings, and all the sv^eetand kind words in the dictionary is 
just lovely. So we say to you friends, hurry up, and don't 

"From The Alphabet of H. Bernard Cirpenter's "Oat Meal Crusaders". 



(IT) 

delay, be 70 as soon as you can, and come u]) into the serene 
heights of the Septuagenarians — be hap^jy with us, and en- 
joy life. Now my friends we have a long program. I wish 
we had a half hour, vea an hour, for some of our interestiuj:: 
speakers, but we haven't. We must be brief in order to 
hear from our many friends. To paraphrase a little : 

"Solid men of Fryehurg, make no long orations; 
Solid men ot Fryeburg, banish strong potations". 

At the close of Mr. Lewis' address, Miss Charlotte Thom- 
as presented him a basket of roses. 

Friend Lewis, 

Accept these flowers from the bachelor girl and 
brother: — you as President of the Perenni;il Yt)uth Society 
— we, as members. You have always gathered the roses of 
life, (and destroyed the thorns), scattering their fragrance 
on all near you and afar — tilling their path with roseate hues 
of hope and love. As you inhale to-night the breath of our 
Portland flowers, from the garden of our hearts, may your 
future years bring to you 

Bright days and happy hours, 

Thy pathway strewn with flowers; 

Hope's brightest rose without the thorn, 

Fill each hour irom early dawn; 

Gay and happy — not forlorn. 

For these good wishes you were born. 

G. A. and C. J. Thomas, 
Your young Friends of the days 
of yore and now. 

My dear friends :— Thanks, a thousand, for this wreath 
of bays and basket of flowers. I am a little dazed — the bril- 
liancy of this company suggests the question ; who am I, where 
am 1, and in wdiat century are we living? Are we in Frye- 
burg, in the beginning of the 20th century — or are we in 
the 5th century, B. C, and at the ^crt(Zew^a in Athens — and 



(18) 

is this the Old Barcl, Homer, in his youth — and is this maid- 
en, Hypatia of Alexandria? No, they are far better than 
all that— they are my good friends, George and Charlotte 
Thomas. 

I now have the |)leasure of introducing Gen. Farrington, 
who will speak words of welcome to our friends and guests, 
and tell us somethino; of the Olden Times. 



ADDRESS OF GEN, E. C, FARRINGTON, 

Mr. Chairman : 

I am reminded that I have from three to five minutes in 
which to say a word of welcome, to these, our friends. First 
let me extend my thanks to Mr. Lewis, our associate, who 
conceived the idea and has brought to fruition, by much 
hard labor, this pleasant meeting. 

To you, our friends, I extend a cordial welcome. To live 
to the age of three-score-and-ten, is not so uncommon an 
event that it requires any special observance, though it 
marks a point in life which has been considered beyond the 
limit. 

Of the thirty-two born in 1834 in Fryeburg, sixteen boys 
and sixteen girls, seven men and three women of that num- 
ber remain, — this remnant which has drifted upon the shores 
of time to linger a little longer, and then drop back, one 
by one, as the tide ebbs away to that unseen deep. 

It seems only a little while since I was a boy, pla3ang 
upon the banks of the Saco, at Toll Bridge, so called, for I 
can clearly remember to within three years of my birth, and 
my mind to-night is crowded with the scenes and experien- 
ces of my boyhood life ; the strenuous life of my parents ; the 
limitations of childhood and youth ; the whirr of the flax and 
spinning wheel ; the pounding of the loom and the rush of 



(19) 

the shuttle ; the lono; tedious hours of toil of my faithful and 
devoted mother ; the open Hre place, for no cooking stoves 
were then used ; the borrowing, at times, of Hre from the 
neighbors, for matches had not then taken the place of punk 
and rtint ; the sealing of letters with wax and peculiarly 
folded paper, for envelopes had not then appeared ; the long 
journeys by stage co*ich of the older ones who went away to 
distant cities to get work,— for there was not a mile of rail- 
road in Main until 1836, when the Veazie road was built, 
12 miles, from Bangor to Oldtown, with its wooden rails 
and strap iron ; little open coach cars with shackles of leath- 
er. 

And how well I also remember our little old red school 
house, with its rows of high back seats, the stern teacher, 
with his switch and ferule; our long walks in wind, snow 
and rain ; the building of fires an hour before school time, 
for each big boy had to take his turn at this ; of our cold 
hands and feet and chilled body, for no one was allowed to 
go and warm by the box stove, until the Testament had 
been read by the school ; all these things and many more 
come to my mind as it goes back to the days when I was a 
boy ; the bare feet from spring 'till tall, the time when the 
JP^cobler came to mend the old shoes and make cow hide boots 
for winter wear ; the neighborhood prayer meetings, where 
our saintly mothers and grave fathers renewed their faith 
and hopes ; the stated call of the revered minister, somber 
and forbidding in appearance, in his high neck stock and 
subdued tone of voice ; the calling in of the family, the long 
prayer, — warning us of the wrath of God and the fire that 
could never be quenched ; the long hours of Sunday and its 
oppressive quiet ; yes, how all these things crowd my mem- 
ory now, and still I cannot forget the brighter side; the 
warmth of the open fire ; the boys and girls of the neighbor- 
hood ; the games of 'hi spy', base and barn ball, the huskings, 
with the coveted red ear of corn, and the reward it brought 



(20) 

to the jSnder ; the apple paring bees ; the swincring of the 
long paring; the baked beans and pumpkin pies, — how 
good they were, — none like them now ; the home-coming 
of brothers and sisters at thanksgiving time; the spareiib 
roasted before the open fire ; the mince pies, and with rais- 
ins in them; the baked Indian puddings from the great brick 
oven ; all these bring the sweeter taste to the mouth, and, 
notwithstanding the change of to-day, to more liberal thought 
and greater freedom, I would not, if I could, blot out a 
single experience of those days, for they were impressive 
with the stern lessons that went deep into the soul, and 
taught us that life was a reality and a trust, and that hon- 
esty, integrity, manliness, kindness, patience, hope, and re- 
ward were the things to be lived for. 

Reared with such surroundings, in this beautiful and most 
picturesque town of Fryeburg, with its smiling valleys, 
winding rivers and clear lakes, charming hills and grand 
mountains, the glorious lights and cool shadows, could one 
but feel thankful that his early life was here begun, and the 
hope was cherished of being laid away at some time within 
its borders? In the name of all that is good and great in 
life, in the name of all that tends to make life an honor, and 
wishing you a pleasant evening, I again welcome you, and 
thank you for your presence here this evening. 



I am now going to introduce to you the N. Y. End, or 
Editor, of that old and re-li-able paper, the Eastern Argus, 
which last year celebrated its centenary. It was never 
brighter and younger than since it passed its century mark. 
The wit, the sharp thrusts, the political and gospel truths 
which come to us in the letters of "L. W. S.'% give us our 
weekly fit of fun and laughter. 



(2i: 



ADDRESS OF L, W, SMALL. 

Bo3^s and Girls of 70 years and upwards ! 

A certain man who won enviable tame in the war of 1861, 
whose name is familiar to you all, l)ut whom I will call Col. 
Tom, had the bad habit of "goino- out with boys", and of 
drinking too much when out. His wife was so greatly op- 
posed to this habit that Col. Tom tried to keep all knowl- 
edge of it from her. On one occasion when he was labor- 
iously making his way homeward, and was trying to in- 
vent some plan to deceive her, he thought that if he did not 
speak she would not detect his condition. 

Reaching his house and stumbling up stairs, his wife sleep- 
ily asked, "Is that you Tom ?" There was no reply Open- 
ing wide her eyes she called loudl}-, "Is that you Torn?'" 
Again no reply. Sitting up in bed in great alarm she cried, 
"Is that you Tom — why do you not answer me Tom — 
why don't you speak?" 

Tom knew that she was badly frightened. He knew that 
if he did not sjjeak quickly she would raise the window, 
raise the neighbors, raise Old Harry, and he thickly respon- 
ded, "I was always a man of few words and now I am plumb 
done talking." Fellow boys and fellow girls, I am like Col. 
Tom, in that I am "plumb done talking" — for I have not 
made a speech in 40 years. 

However on this joyful occasion one cannot refrain from 
saying a few words about that wild and wayward boy — A . 
F. Lewis — as he commences his 71st year. In the old Bap- 
tist Church of my j^outh they sang a hymn, one line of which 
was : "AVhom not having seen I adore." I can almost say 
that of the boy, Lewis. I have seen him once only, 
l)ut for an entire generation I have esteemed him as a dear 
friend — have adored him. I have adored him for his appre- 
ciation of Daniel Webster. To some of us, he who admires 



(22) 

Webster is bound in bonds stronger than of finest steel. 
Wel)ster was a man ! Webster was a great man ! Web- 
ster was not made great by party newspapers and party 
politicians for party purposes, but he was made great by 
the hands of Jehovah. 

Again, 1 adore the boy Lewis because of his devotion to 
the Fryeburg Academy. Largely because of his labor, as 
1 understand it, that Academy has become one of the most 
reputable Educational Institutions on the Continent, to 
graduate from which is in some sort a certificate of nobility. 
As I am not one of its boys 1 can speak with entire impar- 
tial iff/. 

Col. Tom's wife had a very sharp and long tongue. Once 
when the boys were taking him home in a worse than usual 
condition they asked him what he should say to her when 
he got home. The Col. meditated a bit and then responded 
with drunken gravity : "1 will say good evening Sarah, and 
she will say all the rest." And she did. 

So, boys and girls of 70, I have said "Good evening, 
Sarah", and these other boys will say all the rest. 



ADDRESS BY HON. FRANK B. SANBORN. 

Those who have spoken, have dwelt with pride on the 
fact that they were Septuagenarians,— that they were all 
born in 1834,— and to you, Mr. Lewis, born June 23 in 
that year, we all turn with honor and congratulation. But I 
can perhaps say that I foresaw and celebrated your birthday 
when it first occurred, for I am two years and a half older. 
About the time of your advent in Conway, 1 was playing 
in my mother's back-chambe'r, which looks out on the birth- 



(23) 

pjtice of Daniel Webstei't? orandniother, and on the Parson- 
age of President Langdon, the father of your Fryeburg 
scholar, Paul Langdon, and the grandfather of Joseph 
Chandler. As 1 sat there alone, playing with sticks, a sud- 
den thunder shower came up, and the chimney near me was 
struck by lightning. My anxious mother ru.-^hed up stairs 
to see if I was hurt ; and was relieved, she told me, by hear- 
ing me say "I made that great noise, [>ounding with my 
stick". If that w^ere so, — if, like the infant Washington, I 
could not tell a lie, — why I nuist have been celcl)riiting the 
Lewis l)irthday event, lOO miles Jioi'th. 

Till to-day 1 could have held with the young lady who was 
asked if she had seen Niagara Falls, — "I have not, —but have 
always heard them highly spoken of", — for I had never seen 
your lovely village, though long familiar with its name and 
its Indian tight. It was here, by your Lovewell's Pond, 
which Dr. Gordon has promised to show me tomorrow by 
daylight, that a relative of your Founder, Col. Fry e, was 
slain after a rather unclerical performance. Scalping, by 
ministers of the Gospel, at least, has gone out of fashion yet 
the old ballad says, — 

Our worthy Captain Lovewell among them there did die; 
They killed Leftenaut Robbins, and wounded good yoting Frye, 

Who was our English Chaplain; he many iQdians slew, — 
And some of them he scalped while the bullets round him flew. 

1 next heard of Fryeburg as the brief abode of my far- 
away cousin, Webster, who succeeded Paul Langdon as pre- 
ceptor of your famous Academy, and whose handwriting I 
have seen today at your county Registry. Him I never 
saw, though I once answered a letter of his, addressed to 
the students of an Academy ten years older, at Exeter, N. 
H. But my great-grandfather, Benjamin Leavitt, a land- 
surveyor in the New Hampshire forest, used to spend the 
night occasionally at the bouse of Daniel's father, and said 



(24) 

that "Mrs. Webster was the worst housekeeper he ever 
saw". 'Twas ungracious, but perhaps true ; for when Webs- 
ter's father and Paul Langdon's father were persuading New 
Hampshire to ratify Washington's Constitution, in 1788, 
housekeeping in Salisbury must have been ditficult. 

My thoughts have been turned of late towards Fryeljurg 
and Paul Langdon by the fact that I have been writing a 
short biography of Rev. Dr. Samuel Langdon, Paul's father, 
who was president of Harvard from 1774 to 1780, and died 
in my native Hampton Falls, minister of the town, in 1797. 
I hand you a copy of this, Mr. Lewis, containing the will of 
President Langdon ; showing that he was a landholder here, 
and set his son Paul up as a farmer here, after Paul had 
served with courage and credit in the Revolution. He came 
up to this region in 1780, after his discharge from Capt. 
Bryant's artillery company, to look after his lather's thou- 
sand acres in Chatham and Carroll, N. H.— liked Fryeburg 
and Mary Kimball, daughter of your first town clerk, — 
married her, June 28, 1781, cultivated his farm, planted 
appletrees there which 3'et l)loom and bear, and joined with 
Parson Fessenden and others in planting your Academy, of 
which he was for some ten years the accomplished Precep- 
tor. His grandson, Joseph Chandler, long resident here, 
celebrated his 90 birthday in Pembroke, Mass., Nov. 27, 
1899. 

On that occasion. President Eliot, Dr. Langdon's succes- 
sor, wrote to his daughter, Mrs. O. W. Charles, thus : 

"The founder of Fryeburg Academy did a very good work 
for his own and later generations. His father, President 
Langdon was a convinced adherent of the Patriotic party, 
and in testimony thereof he stood up, on the evening of 
June 16, 1775, before the detachment that was going to for- 
tify Bunker Hill, and ofte red prayer to God for their pre- 
servation and success. It was on the doorstep of the house 
where Dr. Holmes was afterwards born that President Lang- 



(25) 

don stood. The spot is marked by a stone which the city 
of Cambridge has erected, between the Law School and the 
Gymnasium". 

Paul Langdon no doubt heard his father's prayer, and the 
next day fought and was wounded, in the regiment of Col. 
Reed of New Hampshire. Two years later he enlisted un- 
der Col. John Crane, in a Massachusetts regiment, and 
served till May 14, 1780 ; was at the battle of Monmouth, 
and from 1816, when he removed to Wyoming County, N. 
Y., was a pensioner till his death at Wethersfield, N. Y., in 
1834. 

Paul Langdon's daughter, Mary, married Dr. Moses Chan- 
dler, of whom Mrs. Charles is the granddaughter. His son, 
Paul Langdon, (born at Fryeburg, Aug., 1797), removed to 
his aunt's, Mrs. Judge Sewall of York, about 181(i, and died 
there, July 25, 1848. His widow, (Abbie S. Treddick of 
Portsmouth), married Capt. J. B. Fernald, after Capt. 
Langdon's death, and survived till 1887 ; but her daughter, 
Elizabeth Langdon, died in 1851, at York ; Elizabeth Lang- 
don, cousin of Paul of York, died there in 1854 ; and no de- 
scendant of Dr. Langdon now lives either in York or Frye- 
burg. But Preceptor Paul's posterity are scattered through 
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Michi- 
gan, Wisconsin, Georgia and California. Should they all 
return to this quiet abode of their ancestor, you would be 
surprised at their number and the distance from which they 
had come. 



(26) 
ADDRESS OF CHARLOTTE J. THOMAS. 

The remarks of Miss Charlotte J. Thomas, while they 
kept the audience in a roar of laughter, were not of a kind 
that can be reported without losina' the personal charm iriven 
them by the magnetism of the speaker. Every one knows 
that it is largely in the wa}' a thing is said that c(mies in to 
make a hit. Miss Thomas has the happy faculty of saying 
things in a v^ ay to make a hit every time. She said it was 
highly appropriate, that she, the perennial bachelor girl, 
should take part in, and contriliute to, a celebratic n in honor 
of the bachelor boy, Lewis, he having completed bis 70 years. 

The presence of women here needs no excuse. Had it 
not been for a woman, his good mother, our friend Lewis 
would not be celebrating here to-night. We are glad his 
mother was a woman, and we are glad he is here, and that 
he can't help being just as he is. I am reminded, said Miss 
Thomas, of my experience in Cit}^ Hall, Portland, many 
years ago, when Anna Dickinson came to give a lecture. 
Her first remark, as she appeared upon the stage, and she 
threw up her arms in a very dramatic manner, was :"W]iat 
am I here for?" A gamin in the gallery promptly sung out, 
"I give it up". 

But we do know just why we are here to-night. We are 
here to join in celebrating the 7()th birthday of one of the 
best men on the earth. He is so because he can't help it. 
He wouldn't have been here, 1 say again, without he had 
had a mother. Men owe no small part of their success in 
life to the pushing and aid given them by the women. She 
has looked up to him and worshipped him, and either been 
a slave or a pet to man. We wish to take our brother Lewis 
by the arm and march to the polls with him before his next 
birthday as a fitting testimonial to the progress of the cause 
of woman suifrage, and to the fact that our friend has arrived 
at the years of discretion. 



(27 



ADDRESS OF MR. E. S. OSGOOD. 

Mr. Osgood said that more tliMn three months ago he had 
promised to be present at their festive celebration, and was 
deliirhted to be able to keep that promise. After extending 
his congratulations to all the 70-year-old persons present, 
he spoke more particulai'ly of Mr. Lewis whom he had 
known all his life, and of whom he was a pupil in the school- 
house next to the Academy, in the 2d district, Fryeburg 
village, in the winter of 1858-'59. Of the 30 pupils who 
attended that term of school forty -five years ago, said Mr. 
Osgood, nine have died, and of the 21 living four are here 
to-night. Mr. Lewis was a good teacher, continued Mr. 
Osgood. He impressed upon his pupils the need of being 
thorough, of understanding perfectly the lessons before go- 
ing on to others. This point Mr. Osgood illustrated by show- 
ing how Mr. Lewis corrected his translation of a sentence in 
the fable of the "Fox and the Lioness'', in Andrews' Latin 
Reader. Mr. Osgood said it had been his intention to write 
a poetical tribute to his old friend and teacher, and with that 
purpose sat down one evening recently to compose, or try to 
compose, a sonnet. While waiting for the coming of the 
Muse — who failed to come, after all — his thoughts turned to 
Longfellow and there came to him the memory of how he 
had heard the poet read at Brunswick "Morituri Saluta- 
raus", the fine poem written for the 50th anniversary of the 
Class of 1825, Bowdoin College. Feeling certain that a 
little description of that historic scene would be more ac- 
ceptable than any verses he could write, Mr. Osgood said 
he gave up the idea of the sonnet and would give in its place 
the descrij^tion. This he did, and closed with quoting from 
that noble poem the following lines, which he said w^ere full 



(28) 

of encouraffement to men and women of all aires. 

"But why, you ask me, should this tale be told 
To men grown old, or who are growing old? 
^ It is too late! Ah, nothing is too late 
Till the tired heart shall cease to palpitate. 
Cato learned Greek at eighty; Sophocles 
Wrote his grand Q^dipus, and Simonedes 
Bore off the prize of verse from his compeers, 
When each had numbered more than fourscore years; 
And Theophrastus, at fourscore and ten, 
Had but begun his "Characters of Men". 
Chaucer, at Woodstock with the nightingales, 
At sixty wrote the Canterbury Tales; 
Goethe at Weimar, toiling to the last. 
Completed Faust when eighty years were past. 



For age is opportunity no less 

Than youth itself though in another dress, 

And as the evening twilight fades away 

The sky is filled with stars invisible by day." 



ADDRESS OF PROF, W. A. ROBINSON. 

Friend Lewis and other Friends : — 

This celebration at its inception, and in its progress to 
this hour, so far as I have been able to observe it, has ap- 
peared to me quite different from others having a like pur- 
pose, namel}^ the accentuation and punctuation of a life 
history which has reached the scriptural limit of thieescore 
years and ten. 

Other Septuagenarians have been impressed with the 
things in store for those whose days are prolonged by rea- 
son of strength to fourscore years. They have seen only 
"their strength, labor and sorrow". 



(29) 

Longfellow in his poem delivered at the fiftieth anniver- 
sary of his graduation from Bowdoin College could not select 
a subject for his poem more hopeful than the cry of the 
gladiators in the Arena facing death, and the Roman popu- 
lace. Moraturi Salutamus, we, about to die, salute you, 
was his sentiment, though he recorded many instances of 
worthies throughout the centuries wdio, much beyond sev- 
enty years of age, had still labored productively. 

With our worthies before us, no one will think to lay 
them on the shelf. Something in the Fryeburg air, the 
Fryeburg water, the Fryeburg society, the calmness of 
Fryeburg life, the hopefulness of the situation as regards ])oth 
the here and the hereafter, has made our elders but recognized 
philosophers. Who would think of anything but mature 
philosophy to drop from the lips of Abby or Olive, Sam and 
Bill, Whitman and Alonzo. 

Better than Longfellow's Latin words to meet the mental 
attitude of our "Seventies" would be "We have looked upon 
and into life, and have learned how to live, and in that know- 
ledge we now salute you. 

JVos, qui vivere cognovimus, vos nunc salutamus. 



ADDRESS OF THOS. ]. ALLARD, 

Brother Lewis' reference to my political faith calls to my 
mind an incident of my early recollection, in fact, the earliest 
of my political remembrances. It was during the 1840, or 
"Old Tip" Campaign. At that time under the existing mili- 
tia law of N. H., all able bodied citizens of the male per- 
suasion between the age of eighteen and forty-five were 
required to train, as they then called the militia drills, and 



(30) 

these traininggi or drills, took place twice ever}' year, cue 
in May and the other in the full, in October I think. On 
this occasion training in the autumn was in my father's field. 
I being only about six years of age, was much interested 
and not a little excited by the shining guns, the martial mu- 
sic, and the manoeuvres of the company in marching, etc. 

The VA^'higs, I presuFue, had beard what was to them good 
news from the fall elections, at any rate some boys larger 
and older than myself, and some of the men, too, were shout- 
ing and hurrahing for Tippecanoe and Tyler too. I think 
I liked the sound as I took it up with enthusiasm and went 
home, or to the house, hurrahing for Tippecanoe and Tyler 
too. My mother said to me, Tommy, when your father 
comes in say that to him. Pretty soon my father came to 
the house ; and no sooner had he got in there than I saluted 
him with the refrain for Tip and Tyler. Whereupon my 
Old Dad gave me a lesson in the lives and public services of 
those apostles of unadulterated Democracy, Jefferson and 
Jackson, that I have not yet forgotten. While I am not a 
son of Fryeburg, or even a native of Maine, I was born in 
the eventful year of 1834, and shall before the closing of 
1904 have passed the line of demarcation noted by the 
Psalmist as the boundary of human life. And while I have, 
as I think, had my full share of the griefs, sorrows and dis- 
appointments, and have been buffetted by many of the ad- 
verse conditions and circumstances incident to earthly ex- 
istence, I have not yet lost interest in humanity, and 
still am willing and even desirous to continue the struggle 
as long as life shall be worth the effort. 

Back in the middle fifties I, under the tutelage of Henry 
H. Smith attended, for a time, at the Academy here, and 
since then 1 have ever had a warm place in my heart for my 
associates and class mates there.., I also remember many of 
the inhabitants of this village prominent in religious, politi- 
cal and business life. The little Methodist Church on north 



(31) 

Main St., (where we are now holding this Festival), with 
good Father Richmond as its pastor ; Dr. Barrows, on the 
hill ; Dr. Ira Towle at the foot, and his son. Dr. Wm. 
Towle, just commencing the practice of his profession. 
The McMillans, James and John, Alexander Bradley, Maj. 
T. C. Ward, trader on the corner; also Mr. Buswell and 
some of the people in E. Conway ; T call to mind Mr. Jacob 
licwis, the father of our Host, the Woodwards, and others. 
The year 1856 was one of great political excitement and 
intense interest, and the discussion of the issues of the cam- 
paign were participated in by the students ; prominent a- 
mong them I well remember the names of A. F. Lewis ; 
also Cyrus Hamlin, John 8. Walker and others. Joel E. 
Morrill from Conway, was there; Blake of Portland and 
some others whose names I do not recall. 



Toast to Dr, Gordon. 

The distinguished disciple of ^sculapius, a native of 
Fryeburg, and "to the manner born". The Doctor carries 
in his head a bright tongue, and in his pocket a pretty 
sharp knife, and he sometimes "cuts" his friends; but we 
freely forgive him as it is all done in the interest of human- 
ity, happiness and health. We don't have the pleasure of 
his company throughout the year, but only "in the sweet 
summer time" ; then we bask in the bright beams of his ra- 
diant, glowing, and cherubic face, which lights up the land- 
scape ; and disease flits away ; and in its place we have balm, 
health and healinir. 



(32) 



ADDRESS OF DR. S. C GORDON. 

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

Dr. Holmes was once invited to give an address at 
one of Dartmouth College Commencements to supply the 
place which Rufus Choate had previously agreed to fill. 
Choate usually filled such engagements in this way. 
Holmes, well knowing this peculiarity of his friend Choate, 
and also well aware that he was the second choice began his 
address as follows : "My friends, if, at some time you had 
been invited by a distinguished body to witness an unusual 
display of the Aurora Borealis in the Northern Heavens, 
which had been predicted by an eminent Astronomer for 
many years, and, on arriving were told that the Astron- 
omer had made a mistake of one hundred years, and it 
would therefore not be on exhibition that night, but instead 
there would be a display of pin wheels, Romivu candles, 
and sky rockets — or if you were making a visit for the first 
time to that wonder of the world, Niagara Falls, and on ar- 
riving there, were told that the Falls had ceased to exist, 
that the Cataract had entirely disappeared, but instead of 
this natural wonder Engine Company No. 5 would play its 
best stream over the bed of their former grandeur, such a 
messenger might be received with courtesy but not with en- 
thusiasm. Such is my position in reference to Mr. Choate 
to-day." I, also, am placed in a similiar position to Dr. 
Holmes, to-night. We have had the Aurora Borealis, the 
Niagara Cataract^ the pin wheels, the Roman candles and 
sky rockets. We have had speeches from the young Sep- 
tuagenarians and Octogenarians, the charm of music from 
both and from the more modern songsters. A14 have joined 
in congratulations to 3^ou and your contemporaries. Permit 
me to extend to you the expression of my good will. Our 
early days were spent as neighbors and friends. You were 



(oo) 

a well behaved boy and young man, and so far as my knowl- 
edge extends, you have kept up the promise of your youth- 
ful manhood. May the good health so long enjoyed, con- 
tinue so long as life may last. May peace and plenty a- 
bound, so that to the end of the journey you may alw^ays 
have "troops of friends". 



LETTERS AND POEMS. 



When our friends have sent both Poems and Letters, they 
are printed together — when they have sent the latter, onl}', 
they are printed under the head of Letters. 

Portland, August 8th, 1904. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

I greatly regret that my duties here will prevent me from 
being present with you on Tuesday evening, so I send a brief 
ihyme as requested. May you have an enjoyable time, and 
a long and happy life. Please convey my best wishes to 
all present, in which my wife joins me. 

Fraternally yours, 

James Phinney Baxter, 

The Test. 

lu my study, tall and straight, 

Stajids a clock of ancient date; 

On its dial black, the hours 

Beam in gold 'midst birds and flowers, 

And of wood which ruddy grew 



(34) 

In some tropical bayou 

Is its case, where strangely shine 

Shapes grotesque which twist and twine 

As like shapes, long years ago, 

Twined and twisted to and fro 

In the bayou's stifling heat, 

Round the tree's thick matted feet. 

Crowning it, an eagle springs 
Heavenward on golden wings; 
So that all may clearly read 
Whither Time's swift flight should lead, 
And I muse, — the while, meseems, 
Certain words break through my dreams, 
Till they grow distinct and clear 
Even to my outward ear: — 

''Do ye justly: love ye mercy: 

Walk ye in humility!" 

From a shelf, perchance, I draw 

Some great poet forth, with awe; — 

One whom men have crowned with bay — 

And I read and wonder — nay 

Worship, ready quite with them 

Even to kiss his garment's hem; 

Till there falls upon my ear 

Slowly, passionless and clear, 

"Did he justly: loved he mercy: 

Walked he in humility?" 

Here is one the world calls great, 
An historian, grave, sedate; 
On whose pages one may read 
Everywhere a noble creed, 
And I say within my soul. 
He hath well achieved the goal 
Of ambition, while I hear 
Slowly, passionless and clear, 

" Did he justly: loved he mercy: 

Walked he in humility?" 

Here is Mather's folio quaint: — 
Mather, who so well could paint 
Sin's exceeding sinfulness — 
Paint it foul of face and dress. 
He was one who rightly claims 
Place above men's common aims, 



(35) 



Murmur I, the while I hear, 
Slowly, passionless aud clear, 

"Did he justly: loved he mercy: 

Walked he in humility?" 

All the great souls to me dear, 

In my study gathered here; 

One by oue, and o'er and o'er, 

This plain test are brought before; — 

This plain test, which seems to fall 

Ever gently upon all; 

Yet which hath the power to try 

Souls of all who love and die: — 

"Did he justly: loved he mercy: 

Walked he in humility?" 

This then, is the changeless test 
Of all souls, however blest 
With great powers, and few there be 
Who may meet it worthily. — 
Beat, old clock, from sun to sun! 
Beat! while life's swift currents run 
Through my veins, aud let me hear, 
Slowly, passionless and clear, 

"Do ye justly: love ye mercy: 

Walk ye in humility!" 



Seventy Lines of Cheer to My Septuagenarian Friends. 

O worthy friends who gather here to-day, 

How is it that you have the power to say 

To marching Time, "Obey us now: stand still", 

And seem to find him bowing to your will? 

The Psalmist writing with his royal pen. 

Declared that when the three-score years and ten 

Were passed, the way would henceforth be 

Of sorrowing labor, till Eternity. 

But you have seemed to set his words at nought, 

And find your seventy years with pleasure fraught. 

Those years have spared you: body, soul and mind 

Today show plainl}' that no fetters bind: 

Those fetters Time so stealthily will place 

To show their traces on the form and face: 



(36) 

This seventieth year finds each one with the wealth 

Of human vigor mutiplied by health: 

And each mind active, yea, more active now, 

Than when youth's chaplets lay upon each brow. 

In youthful prime the days while passing by 

Seemed long as years so slowly did they fly: 

And yet, though time and onergj' were yours 

What one achievement of those years endures? 

Those days with castle-building plans were filled: 

The field was fertile, but 'twas little tilled. 

More years were added, years of patient toil: 

You learned how fruitful was the waiting soil: 

The castles were forgotten, and now see, 

Each life is like a palace fair to me. 

Now comes to mind a story 1 will tell: 

Perhaps it is not true, but I mean well: 

A certain youth of vigor of desire. 

Whose soul was like an all-consuming fire. 

Approached a man of learning whose bowed head 

Gave token that in work his years had sped, 

And said, "My Master, I would fain be sought 

"By all the world because of deeds I wrought: 

"What city is there, where my mighty powers 

"Shall be all-seen as are yon castle towers, 

"And people say, 'To that man none compare?' " • 

To him there answered he of silver hair: 

"All great achievements came from little things: 

"They once were infants who now rule as kings. 

"The place to which you would see people come 

"Must first of all, be nowhere else than Home". 

This fable teaches, only those as kings 

Rule, who were faithful in the little things. 

And that the crowns of glor}' often rest 

On heads of those who simply did their best, 

But labored in home's little, humble space, 

And never knew the noisy market-place. 

And so, while you have followed quiet ways. 

You have not passed, I know, beyond the gaze 

Of Him who sees the character that brings 

Each honest laborer the full rights of kings. 

Three-score of years and ten have lightly shed 

Their burdens on each justly honored head: 

And though the noon-tide of life's day is passed 

The afternoon need not be waning fast. 

The busy persons never moment's lose, 



(37) 

A life of leisure they would never choose: 
And many a youth will earnest pray to feel 
But half the vigor of our well-trained zeal. 
Old age is not the prize of all these years: 
That only conies to him who waits and fears: 
But you who greet with joy three-score and ten 
May live the best j'ears of your life again: 
And as the almond tree shall spread its shade 
Will glory in it, being not afraid: 
For with the mornings of the waning year 
The fairest blossoms of all months appear. 

John Stuart Barrows. 
Boston, Aug. 3, 1904. 



Auburn, Me., Aug. 5th, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

I am aware of your approaching birthday and shouhl 
delight to be with you, and the other bright spirits on that 
occasion, but an overwhelming pressure of busines.s will 
prevent. 

Three score years and ten I What a" tale they tell as tiie 
memories of the past come whirling even unbidden into the 
mind. But when, as in your case, those fond recollections 
are only associated with noble acts and deeds they come as 
a cruest that is bidden to the feast. Please do not resfard 
these words as an idle expression of flattery, but remember 
that the praises of sincerity have ever been permitted to the 
voice of friendship. 

Accept my heartiest congratulations on this auspicious 
occasion, and the sincere hope that the day may be long 
delayed when your footsteps shall be directed into the dark 
shadows. Permit me to close this brief tribute to a friend 
with a few lines of verse leathered on the sides of Parnassus. 



(38) 

A Birthday Songf* 

Friend Lewis, let me siug thy birthday song, 
And may each note thy joys of life prolong; 
This humble rhyme shall greet thee in the glaile 
Where oft in childhood's days thy footsteps strayed. 

O, may the genius of the bards of yore, 
Inspire my pen with more than classic lore; 
A friend's true love! What nobler gift could be 
Than this the tribute that I bring to thee? 

This is thy natal morn, and yet too clear, 

'Tis but the evening of a dying year; 

The flowers of spring may bloom — then fade away 

And nature mourn to see her charm decay. 

Thus year by year this natal day shall bring 
The pleasures of thy youth on memory's wing, 
And saddening thoughts against the will may rise, 
To mar those joys too oft we lightly prize. 

Auspicious day! that gave to others birth. 
The same gave thee thy earliest views of earth; 
A day which countless thousands hail with joy. 
To thee no promised pleasures should destroy. 

What though the locks that graced thy childhood's brow 

A silvery tinge these fleeting years avow? 

The youthful heart that beats within thy breast. 

Still pulsates warmly as thine acts attest. 

The kindly deeds that link thy honored name 
With virtue's, are sweeter far than fame. 
Long may thy life through coming years be spared, 
And with the friends of youth thy joys be shared. 

O may kind angels guard thy earthly tread. 
And smooth the pathway to thy dying bed. 
Dear Lewis, with thy name my muse begun, 
Once more my love to thee — my task is done! 

L. C. Bateman. 
Auburn, Me., Aug. 9th, 1904. 



(39) 

15, Fifth Street, 
Bangor, August 4, 1904. 
A. F. Lewis Esq., 

Dear Sir : 

In reply to your kind invitation for August 
ninth, I send you a few rhymes and trust that your juvenile 
gathering will be a success in every way. 

With many pleasant memories and warm regards. 

Your sincere friend, 

Ellen H. Butler. 



From all the fierce, bewildering blaze 

Of these our scientific days, — 

When X rays bring our l)ones to sight, 

And with the incandescent light 

The doctors search life's deepest chasm 

To catch the spark of protoplasm 

Snatch up the missing link, and find 

The essence of sub-conscious mind, — 

Run down the soul, reduce it to 

A mode of motion, swift and new; — 

From these strange formulas of truth 

Let us return to trusting youth. 

I/ife's best philosophy ne'er fails 

To greet us in our fairy tales 

And folk lore of those happy years 

Before men analyzed their fears 

And hushed their joke and laugh to see 

How much kinetic energy 

Was thereby wasted. Let us turn 

And set the candle-flame a-burn, 

In that dim, witching shine and shade 

Not one of us will be afraid 

Some cherished, fond belief to tell 

In household sign or ancient spell; 

Our knowledge of some haunted place 

Beset by fairy charm and grace. 

If there is such a spot I ween 

By Saco's windings 'twill be seen, 

There lies a hill-bound plain, in spring 



(40) 

Made green with man)' an elfin ring. 

There grows the herb which legends say 

If eaten, draws the heart away 

From toil and care, from love and hate. 

Back where he plucked and where he ate 

The eater must return. No pain 

Or joy can hold him from this plain. 

There prows that flower Ulysses found 

When wandering on enchanted ground. 

Inhale its fragrance! You shall know 

The secret of all things that grow, 

The speech of all that walk or fly. 

There, cities in the sunset sky 

You may behold by misty seas 

Teeming with rainbow argosies, — 

Ladders of light through purple haze, 

And goblins climbing moon-spun ways, — 

Mirage of winter tempests born. 

The note of fairy harp or horn 

Shall lure you forth, and you may find 

That heart's desire of all mankind, — 

The fountain by old poets sung. 

Whose draught shall keep you blithe and young. 

Ah many a wight hath quaffed so deep 

He felt the pulse of childhood leap. 

With those sweet waters clear and cold, 

And such have never yet grown old. 

Tell me true hearts met there to-day. 

Your heads perhaps just touched with grey, — 

Have you not seen the fairy ring? 

Did you not taste the bubbling spring? 

Have I not spoken truth? Declare, 

Is there not magic in the air? 

Count not the decades life has spanned, 

For what are years in fairy-land? 

Welcome from far and near to dwell 

Once more beneath the old time spell, 

Once more to hear from woodbird's throat 

That wild, intoxicating note. 

Bidding us learn anew the mood 

Of young immortal maidenhood; 

And taste the brave and eager joys 

Of boys who always will be boys! 

ElI/KN Hami,in Butj^ER. 



(41) 



My dear Kinsman 



I hope this will reach you in time — that you may know 
1 did not forget or neglect. 

I waited, hoping to send you a jioem, but none canie, and 
1 am forced to put you off with this rhyme whose only 
north is in the warm good wishes which go with it. 

(Treetini>:s to all. 



In A COOLBRITH. 



To A. F. Lewis, 
In Honor of His Seventy Years, 
June 23, igo4. 



If my Muse were not gone on a journey, 

To Russia, Japan, or the Pole, 

To Mars or the Moon — as it may be — 

At least, past my reach or control, 

I would make the jade send you a sonnet, 

The fairest e'er flowing from pen — 

For the soul of The West should be in it, 

To greet you at Three-Score-and-Teu. 

It should soar far aloft as our mountains, 

Be strong with the strength of our hills; 

Be golden as grain-golden valleys, 

And tuneful with tunes of our rills; 

It should bear you the breath of the orange. 

The fragrance of garden and glen. 

And ring with the meadow-lark's carol, 

To greet you at Three-Score-and-Ten. 

And lo! in its gladness and sweetness 

All travail should vanish away. 

As of night time the mists and the vapors 

Are lost in the dawning of day; 

You should feel all the jubilant currents 

Of youth thrill the heart-pulse again. 

To blend with the wealth of life's harvest, — 

God's crown upon Three-Score-and-Ten!.... 

But as from my side she is absent — 

Once more to the MuSE I refer, — 

And no man, or woman, may order 



(42) 

The coming or going of her, 

I can only send this as a greeting, 

With joy and a hearty Amen: 

May a score and a half, Coz, be added 

To the years that are Three-Score-and-Ten! 

1604 Taylor St., Ina Coolbrith. 

Russian Hill, 
San Francisco, Calif. 



Bryantville, xVIass., August 1st, 1904. 

My dear Friend : — 

Your letter was received and read with much pleasure 
and profit. I am very grateful for all the trouble you took 
to assist me in genealogical research, of which I will write 
you more on a separate page. 

Dr. Charles and I thank you for your kind invitation to 
participate in the celebration of your birthday. Although 
we Ijave not given up all hope of being present, yet a doc- 
tor is such an uncertain factor in the social equation, that I 
enclose a foolish, little jingle which may recall some not 
unpleasant memories. With it go most affectionate regard 
and many good wishes from all the household. 

Those who are familiar with my chirography most readily 
pardon a machine made note. 

Yours truly, 

Mary E. Charles. 

J834. J904 

To A. F. Lewis Esq. of Fryehutgf Maine, on his 

Seventieth Birthday. 

Tell me again how many years 
Time has given from his store; 
I can not — will not now believe 
They are ten and three score. 



(43) 



I saw you at the old homestead, 

Fields green to river brink. 

I was visiting "Sam and Bill;" 

Two years ago, I think. 

You came to the Centre schoolhouse, 

The schoolhouse, red and low; 

Our teachers' blue eyes drew you; 

That was one year ago. 

I stood quite meek at your counter 

To buy paper and pen; 

And ask some help in my Latin; 

It is a month since then. 

You came to the Academy, 

(We delved in classic lore) 

And spoke of the worth that lay in books; 

That was last week, I'm sure. 

And then our talks on Pedigree 

And heroes in the fight 

Which gave us the star spangled banner; 

That was but yester night. 

So I've proved no ten and three score 

Have fallen yet on thee; 

Still "playing at old age", you are, 

But not deceiving me. 

This fair old world still delights thee; 

It's not a tale that's told. 

Country and books, city and men 

Have not to thee grown old. 

Then greetings, many and gladsome 

I sing with faltering tongue; 

May Time give you full five score years 

And keep you always young. 

Mrs. O. W. Charles. 
Bryantville, Mass., Aug. 9th, 1904, 



(44) 
Santa Rosa, Cal., Aus:. 1st. 



Dear Lon — 



I sent you a letter a few days ago and now I send you 
a little greeting for your Jubilee, and tho' it is not much I 
hope it will hear just once reading ; and be sure I would like 
so well to be there, and I will be, too, tho' you may not see 
me. 

I rejoice that you have passed so many mile-stones on 
the journey of life and just so long as there is "a joy of liv- 
ing", just so long may you journey on, and may the path- 
way continue smooth and unobstru(;ted to the end. 

I wonder who all are children of '34. I am sure you and 
Olive are, more than that, you are twins. I think that 
"Sam and Bill" were '34 twins, too. Well I will wish you 
a jolly good time and hope to hear from you soon. 

With much love, 

Sister Hat. 

To "Brother A. V" at his three-score-and-ten Jubilee, 

Mountains and hills divide us, 
* Broad seas and many a strait, 
And so, I send my greeting 
Out through the "Golden Gate". 
But, tho' so very far away, 
I'll be with you all to-day, 
Not in body, but in spirit fine, 
I'm wishing much joy 
To each girl and old boy 
As in days of "Auld Lang syne". 
Yes, three-score -and-ten, 
The race for men. 
You've gained the height so bold! 
And, by reason of strength 
May you reach the length 
Of that good old man of old. 
But, as the years begin to shorten, 



(45) 



And the mystic cords to tauten 

That bind to the other shore, 

With the ingoing tide 

May you gently glide, 

And your bark securely moor. 

Now, my Brother dear, 

Though we never here 

May meet in an earthly dawning, 

I'll grasp your hand 

In the better land, 

And bid you a glad "Good-morning". 



From your absent sister, 

Hattie Lewis Colbroth. 



Santa Rosa, Cal., Aug., 1904. 



San Francisco, Cal., Aug. 2d, 1904. 

Dear Uncle Lon : 

It is with regret that I pen you these lines — regret 
that I cannot be with you and your jovial companions and 
participate in the festivities in commemoration of your 70th 
anniversary. 

Though not one of you in years, I am sure I could be in 
heart and soul. Though thousands of miles divide us, I am 
living in anticipation of seeing you all before long. I have 
my mind fully made up to eat my Thanksgiving dinner with 
you, and 1 hope to be able to make the day pass so pleasant- 
ly that you will think you are a boy again. 

Should it be destined that I reach the three-score-and-ten 
mark, I trust that Father Time will deal with me as lenient- 
ly as he has apparently with you. Harry wishes me to 
extend to you his best wishes for an eventful day. 
Mamma, of course, will send you a few lines ; and I wish 
she could be with you, for she would enjoy the day to its 



(46) 

fullest extent. 

Remember me to all the folks, and again wishing you ;ill 
the joy that can be pressed into one day, I am 

Your affectionate niece, 

Cora L. Col broth. 

California is distant — 

Maine is far away, 

But a message of cheer 

For a clay so dear 

Will surely not eo astray. 

So accept my love, my uncle dear, 

'Tis all I have to send; 

And may it lend to the day 

Some little cheer 

For your three score years and ten. 



The Boyish Man, 

Dear friend, here's to a youth outwitting age, 

Three score and ten, and yet with closest scan 

I seek for trace of years upon a lineless page. 

And thus indite my scroll, "The Koyish Man." 

With cheer I hail yon sir, an age-defying bard. 

Whose life keeps pace with happenings, old and new; 

Old Time you've thrown completely off his guard. 

By such persuasive ways, he dare not challenge you. 

I take it, sir, that you decry ihe pessimistic cuss 

Who beats his head against conditions loul or fair; 

Who swears this world is all a mussy muss; 

All earthly joys but castles in the air. 

To you, compensation is a changeless law, 

However varied are its workings, or complex; 

To rail at fate is judgement with a flaw, 

In eit"her man or woman, sage or sex. 

You seek for all that's purest, best in life; 

You write not verse which pain or grief allows. 



(47) 

You take no part in bitter wage or strife; 
You only love, that, which love endows. 
Your soul has often felt a deep regretful hurt 
That Byron's passion ever breathed aloud; 
That Hood should stitch his woeful cotton shirt, 
Or weave it into rhyme, that agonizing shroud. 
E'en Poe's old bird upon his Pallas bust. 
Brings to your soul a dreaded chill; 
Were this not so, his darned old tapping must. 
His wierd old tapping, tapping on the sill. 

His Bells have often in a fancied knell 
Disturbed your sleep in wild nightmarish din; 
Till in your dreams you've dreamed of — well 
That you were there, and that Old Jones was in. 
But our noble Whittier's Barefoot Boy 
You have clasped him often in your arms; 
"The Children's Hour", Longfellow's pride and joy 
No sleep disturbs, no dream alarms. 
I would not claim that you in verse 
Disdain the part heroes have played; 
Not so, dear sir, the fact is the reverse; 
Your gentleness is only strength delayed. 
No skin-cured process of the doctor's art 
Provokes upon thy cheek that maiden blush to rise; 
Those still important members play their winning part 
Full oft in woman's soul, (Your roguish eyes). 
Pardon kind sir, if intrusion stalks abroad; 
This plea for woman's made, as you surmise; 
Give heed, my friend, Aunt Charlotte shouts "Good Lord! 
They're making now their sweetest goo-goo eyes". 
'Tis strange methinks, such sweetness so preserved, 
Wherefore without that saving grace, (the nuptial tie)? 
Life speculation which so oft is vainly served 
Still hovers round the wherefore and the why. 
'Tis open season now, the game is just and fair; 
Girls set the pace and make it good and hot; 
Not high, not low, don't shoot his heels or hair, 
But let young Cupid's aim select the spot. 
Dear sisters, charge the fort, your victim's here; 
The incentive lives, now onward to the fray; 
Shyness begone, remember tis the year 
When Nature's Lord becomes fair woman's prey. 
See letter on page 51. AtherTon Furlong. 



(48) 

Dear Mr. Lewis — 

I hope the enclosed Improynptu will be of some use in 
response to your invitation. It comes from the heart, at 
least. I am sure all will go well, as of course it will, being 
under your management. You see I judge by past exper- 
ience. I wish I could be there in person, but circum- 
stances do not favor my carrying out the desire. 
Wishing you all the success anticipated, I am, 

most sincerely, 

Aug., 1904. Elizabeth Porter Gould. 



18, Sutherland Road, 

Boston, August, 1904. 

My dear Mr. Lewis : 

Your kind and unique invitation to the 70th birthday 
celebration for August 9th, recalls the delightful hospitality 
of the dear old town and its people when honors were given 
to the memory of Daniel Webster and others who had 
blest it with distinguished service. I regret exceedingly 
that I cannot enjoy a continued hospitality by being present 
on the occasion when the living are to be honored. 
But I cannot forget you all — 

For who can forget old Fryeburg town, 
The town of ancient, wise renown, 

Where love and joy unite 
To bless the home, the school, and all 
Who come within the birthday-call 

Of this fair August night. 

But dearer still she seems to be, 
When, to the summer jollity 

By A. F. Lewis led, 
She can so many "young old men", 



(4:9) 

Call, in their "three-scofe-^'^afl-s-ancl-ten'"'. 
Her "dear Old Boys", instead. 

"Old Boys", who in the growing days, 
Knew all the various tricks and ways, 

Which opened to the fun. 
And yet kept heart and eye 'to 'truth 
Through all the atmosphereof youth, 

Each one a favorite son. 

So to "Old Boys and Girls", we say, 
— For one alone rules not the day 

Where Mr. Lewis reigns — 
"Here's to your health and joy and peace, 
'Till time's festivities shall cease, 

And each his Heaven obtains". 

Elizabeth Porter Gould. 



21, Belmont St., Coyle Park, 
Portland, Me:.. 

My dear Mr. Lewis : 

Why I thought you had forgotten me. When I learned' 
of the "young old gentleman's" unique invitations issued il 
felt an impulsive wish to be included in the number of his 
friends, but from my slight acquaintance and the years that 
run between the Then and Now, I did not hope for remem- 
brance. 

It will be my great pleasure to join in the festivities of 
the old boys and girls on the 9th of August, and shall antic- 
ipate with eagerness the day. 

It is a coincidence that while you made your entree into 
the world on the 23d of June 1834, my dear and only son 
found his introduction into life on the same day, just fifty 
years later. 

Judging from yourself and him that must have been a 
very good star under which to be born. 

Thanking you for remembrance, and trusting for propit- 



(50) 

ious skies when all these friends meet you and each other, 
I remain, 

Sincerely your friend, 

Clara Marcelle Greene. 
June 30, '04. 



Aug. 8, '04. 

My dear Mr. Lewis : 

Since a personal presence at your birthday party is 
denied me, I am impelled by a spirit of good fellowship to 
send you a bit of greeting as from an old girl to an old boy. 
Hoping to see you yet, on some other day, I remain, as 
ever. 

Very Sincerely your friend, 

Clara Marcelle Greene. 
Coyle Park, 
Portland, Me. 



To My Friend, 
A. F. Lewis, 
On the Day when he is Seventy Years Yoting:. 

Youtti, as youth, is as nought to youth! 

When its color of rose is dissolved in gray 

We recall the glow we forgot, in truth, 

In our zest for the race of the dawning Day. 

And calm in the Afternoon's sweet air, 

With tranquil steps, and hearts at rest, 

Our thoughts, like our shadows, run backward far. 

And Morning or Evening, — ah, which is best? 

A little downward our pathways run, 

But out and into the Sunset's glow 

That is richer than all, when all is done, 

And all the wondrous Unknown we know! 

CI.ARA Marcelle Greene. 



(51) 

A. F. Lewis, Esq., 

My dear Sir : 

As I accept your kind and flattering at- 
tention, enabling me for a brief space to join the jocund set 
I find a little drop clinging to the eyelid, and a suggestive 
lump rising in the throat. 

Fifty one being my birth year and Greenwood, Oxford 
Co., my birth ];)lace, you will see, in accepting, that I am 
brought somewhat within the sympathetic circle of years as 
well as the locality (*f the doings on Aug. 9th. I shall antic- 
ipate from now until the happening the pleasure of being 
with you and your friends, and if in any way, in song or 
modest verse, I can till a niche however small, I am yours 
to command. 

Very Cordially, 

Atherton Furlong. 
Portland, June 21, 1904. 

See poem on page 46. 



1003 K. St., Washington, D. C. 
July 27, 1904. 



My dear Mr. Lewis 



Fate, or shall I give her a plural name and call her 
"circumstances", will prevent me from making one of the 
happy throng which will meet in beautiful Frjeburg on the 
evening of August 9th to celebrate your birthday ; so, though 
the flesh loudly demands the green hills and cool breezes of 
my native state, and the spirit ever turns that way, T must 
refrain, and will send you, in lieu of my presence, this brief 



(52) 

reminder of my existence and of my good wishes to you- 
ward. 



"I am not old! I cannot be old! 
Though three-score-years-and-ten 

Have wasted away like a tale that is told, 
The lives of other men". 



How many times in the last two months, dear Mr. Lewis, 
has this verse been flung at your devoted head by well- 
meaning friends? Fully half a hundred I dare say ;^ but it 
tits the case so well that I am going to risk being the fifty- 
tirst user of it in writing you a birthday note. 

A wonderful man you surely are ! Very few of my ac- 
quaintances have "reached this advanced age" whose looks 
so belie their years as you. Sharp of eye, keen of hear- 
ing, straight as an arrow, active as a boy of twenty, and 
with mental powers at their best, one could almost feel that 
you have found and bathed in the fountain of perpetual 
youth. What is your secret, 1 pray? For the sake of your 
friends you should publish it broadcast ere it be too late for 
some of them to profit by it. We, who have not yet round- 
ed out our three-score years, would be glad to know it, since 
some of us already feel our bodily infirmities far more than 
you. 



So: 



Congratulations now to you, 
For hearing keen, for eyesight true, 
For active walk, for boyish tread. 
For "teeth still native to their bed", 
For "strong digestion", e'en of roast. 
For mental powers as few can boast. 
For "sleep o'nights" as when a boy, 
For tuneful voice o'er which we joy, 
For all these gifts, and many more, 



(53) 

Your seventy years still hold in store; 
We wish you joy. 

So with fervent hopes for the coming years, 

And many may they be, 
Ere you shuffle off this mortal coil. 

And 3'our Heavenly Home you see. 
With a smile and a tear for the years that are past, 

And the friends that have left us for aye, 
Here's a toast to the man — to the young, old man, 

Who is seventy-years young to-day. 

Always your sincere friend, 

Sarah E. Gannett, 



Portland, Aug. 1st, 1904. 

Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

My dear Friend : 

I regret exceedingly that I cannot be with 
you on your birthday festival, but I think I may promise 
a true and hearty greeting for this long-time friend — God 
bless him. 

Caroline Dana Howe. 

Aug. 8th. 
My dear Friend : 

I have been ill and could not write a poem for your 
birthday, as I wished to do, but send, instead, my Long- 
fellow Poem which has been framed, and last week was 
called for to hang in the Longfellow Mansion. It may call 
forth some interest as it surely has 7i ere. Kind regards to 
Fryeburg friends. 

C. D. H. 



(54) 
Longfellow* 

Call him not dead! his anthems grand 
Of flowing sweetness, or command, 
Find answering hearts divinely thrilled, 
That vibrate as his song hath willed. 
To pure emotions, kindled warm, 
His Poet-soul gave life and form! 
Enfolding all ideal thought 
In royal vestments, Love-enwrought. 
With native sovereignty of Mind, 
Life's higher forces he combined; 
For all, who greatness would achieve, 
Must comprehend it, and believe. 
If separated from its God, 
The soul leaves noblest ways untrod! 
This truth upon his heart he bore, 
A sacred shield forevermore. 
So voiced he with unsullied lips, 
Broad Nature's lumined manuscripts. 
Until old Ocean's organ tones 
Rehearsed his songs in far-off zones. 
And thus our Poet, lying down 
When at the summit of renown 
Found rest, and woke renewed, to sing 
On yonder heights, where Love is King. 
O Bard! whose life can have no end; — 
Thy greatness would all rank transcend; 
For Virtue here, thy Fame outran. 
And stamped thee clear a Noble Man. 

Caroline Dana Howe. 



Ode to Mr. Lewis on his Seventieth Birthday* 

It is with joy I come to-day, 
And simple words of welcome say, 
To all who are assembled here, 
This prosperous and plenteous year. 
Which marks a date we can't forget, 



(55) 



For Mr. Lewis is with us yet. 

'Mid clustering hills, 'mong valleys green. 

In eighteen hvmdred thirty-four. 

His eyes first opened to the light, 

vVliose rays for ten years and three score, 

Have guided him throughout the ways 

That only tell of worth and praise. 

His pen with language strong and keen. 

On many a page of press is seen. 

And in the academic hall. 

His voice was ready at Duty's call. 

But best of all, on sea or land, 

On foreign soil or near at hand, 

He's always shown as well he can, 

The true-born, knightly gentle man. 

The years are sad, the years are glad, 

Since eigh teen-hundred-thirty-four; 

But still erect, alert and strong, 

He stands as in the days of yore. 

Here's to his health and many years. 

Filled full of joy, no rooms for tears! 

Angelina L. Howe. 



Seventy Yeai-s. 

Dedicated to A. F. Lewis on his Seventieth Birthday, June 23d, 1904. 

The years roll away like billows of ocean. 

And leave us as wrecks on the shores of despair; 

Yet, still in the soul eternal emotion 

Prevails through the midnight of sorrow and care. 

And friends fall around us like leaves in the blast 

And go to God's acre to rest with the blessed; 

Yet, love is triumphant from first unto last 

And shines while it fades in the gloom of the West. 

Though seventy long years departed forever 

Have wrinkled your brows and whitened your hair 

You still can be happy on Life's rushing river 

And hope for Redemption— transplanted Up There! 



(56) 

Then, here's to dear Lewis, our neighbor and friend, 
May a century round off his glorious years, 
With love and devotion to last to the end. 
And joy be triumphant, unmingled with tears. 

John A. Joyce. 



Washington, D. C, 
June 23d. 1904. 



"Bungalow Overlook", 
No. 40, Lower Terrace, 

San Francisco, Cal., 
A. F. Lewis, Esq. ;- Sat. Morn., 6, -11, -'04. 

Fiyeburg, Maine ; — 

Dear Old Fellow-Boy, or 

Old-Boy Fellow, or Old Boy-Fellow ;- 

Ani/Wiiy to keep peace in the Family ; — 

Your 1834 — 1904 Circular came day be- 
fore yesterday. 1 was mighty glad to get it, and equally 
sorry that the seven thousand miles of travel necessary to 
go and come must prevent iU getting me. Not only that 
but the date, Aug. 9th, falls outside of vacation time. Be- 
ing interrupted just at the end of the first paragraph I got 
the idea from its fourth line that the date of the assembula- 
tion of your proposed syndic, or syndicate, or sanhedrim, 
was to be the 23d of this month. Accordingly, that you 
might not miss my little jingle to be offered in evidence of 
my epistolary presence with you "Old Boys" in celebrating 
the completion of your Sabbatical Decade, — the seventh ten 
years of your miscellaneous, variegated and picturesque old 
existencies,— I went at work at once. 

Having had my rheumatic old Pegasus under the saddle 
for some days cantering over the track for the coming Cele- 



(57) 

hration of the 17th of June by the Bunker Hill Association, 
for which they h;tve called on me for the third year in suc- 
cession, I had only to shift the saddle, cinch him up a hole 
or two tighter, bait him with the appropriate ])rand of oats 
and head him at the hui'dles along this new track. The old 
fellow responded very freely through some sixteen stanzas 
in five hours when, happening to visualize your circular 
once more, his rider's eye caught the date Aug. 9th, and at 
once saw that your contemplated tumultuous, not to say 
riotous, assemblage doth not agglomerate till that date. 
Whereupon a long sigh so deep as to prove quite funda?7ien- 
tal relieved the tension of my attention and increased the 
fZ/^-tension of my aliominable regions till they might have 
reminded an aeronautic expert of an inverted model of one 
of Santos Dumont's famous balloons. 

Now, if you please, what I want of you is this: — send 
more names of old residenters, aboriginals, indigenous ce- 
lebrities, any of whom, — or of whose descendants, — will 
probably meet in your hos]utable domicile August 9th, next. 
I have used the names of Barrows, the O^goods, Sewall, — 
or is it Sewell, — Uncle John Smith and, of course, your 
own. Kindly post me as early as may be that, in re-writ- 
ing, I may include as many as may l)e, for, even though 
some other should try the same thing, — as is more than 
likely, — my use of the names may be sufficiently different 
to justify its presentation. 

John Hutchinson I knew in Lynn, Mass., when father 
preached there along in '48, -'9, -'50, and the Hutchinson 
family lived at the base or on the lower slope of High Rock. 
One would judge that he must be out of the 'septuas' in a- 
mong the 'octo-genarians' by this time. Yes, I knew him 
and Jesse and their sister Abby and often enjoyed their 
sweet songs. If John materializes with you kindly give 
him my old-time regards, though I cannot flatter myself 
that he would have the least idea of the little freckle-faced 



(58) 

kid that I was at that time. 

Glad you have come to 'Nirvana' so early, — you do not 
say you have entered into it. Your and my temperament 
hardly takes kindly to dead rest of any sort as a steady oc- 
cupation. As for myself I'm to keep on infinitely, learn- 
ing of those who know more, then turning round and pass- 
ing it on to any who know less. Have work laid out e- 
nough to keep me busy for two or three eternities yet. 

Your quotation of Ward's "intoxicating the shunning 
bowl" suggests that such a performance might fittingly 
take place on the evening of 'Birthingtois's Washday' 
when some of the guests are in condition to pay the dollar a 
waiter and side out onto the step-walk. 

Am frightfully well all-throughly and up to the tops of 
my ears, — if you remember their altitude, — not only writing 
the rhymes for Bunker Hill, but arranging for the Cel- 
ebration. 

Am to be in the Mount Hamilton mountain Avilderness for 
a month and in the Santa Cruz Big Tree Forest for ten days, 
but any mail will promptly reach me. Have to make a l)it 
of a 'Noration' on the Fourth of Jurendence, also. 
Lots of Love. As everly, thine, 

E. Knowlton. 

V 

No. 40, Lower Terrace, S. F.,Cal., 7,-28,-'04. 

My dear Lewis : — 

As my letters gave you to understand I was 
to be so I was, absent from town for about five weeks. Am 
just back, not fairly settled yet. Your letters with addi- 
tional information and statistics, waited my return and I'm 
sorrier than I can tell you that I cannot use their contents 
for two reasons, mainly : — 1st, on looking over your list 
of participants from whom you exi)ect contributions of verse 
prose or speech, I see at least two others besides myself pro- 



'(59) 

gramed for matter which may,— ahiiost certainly will, dea! 
with the celebrities of Fryeburg past and present, if not to 
come, — shame on you, you neglectful old celibate, that you 
have done nothing, — as far as known, to contribute to the 
last. So I inclose the two letters of yours which contain 
matter of which one might make almost an epic had he time. 
Then, secondly, my long absence has put a lot of work to be 
done upon these first, and many following days so that I 
could not begin to do justice to a subject as voluminous as 
paying fitting honors to a list as long. Hence I shall beg 
you to accept the inclosed re-writing of the off-hand rhymes 
I sent with some changes in a few stanzas and the addition 
of two or three more. 

How you would have enjoyed my outing ! First, with a 
gentleman of our U. S. Mint, walked to the 'Big Basin', a 
reservation of 3800 acres in the Santa Cruz country bought 
by the state and kept as a perpetual Park for the state. It 
contains hill and dale and forests, (the last chiefly), with 
streams and one waterfall of surpassing beauty 80 ft. high 
by 25 wide over the face of a clifi" so nearly perpendicular as 
to l)arely break the whole fall into one sheet of foamy, snowy 
whiteness shut in with silence. The Warden made us whol- 
ly at home. Slept five nights in the open at the foot of a 
tree 210 feet high by 35 feet in girt, peeping up thro' the 
branches to the stars from> a soft couch of fragrant leaves, 
soft and springy, in the midst of the soundless dusk of a 
California night. Then 22 days in the Mount Hamilton wil- 
derness whence from the to}) of a 3G85 ft. peak I gazed over 
20 leagues of park-clad, billowy mountains rolling in from 
the S. and S. S. E. with no house nor fence nor sign of hu- 
manity but the observatory crowning the great mountain 
itself. But I must defer fuller account till later. Write me 
early and fully. 

Regretfully and Fraternally thine, 

E. Knowlton. 



(60) 

No. 40 Lower Terrace, S. F., Cal., Tn., 8.-2 -'04. 

My dear Lewis : — 

In the hurry of enclosure the other day I left 
out the inclosed. As it may possibly contain something 
you may wish to use I send it along in the hope that it will 
reach you, — as it certainly ought, — in time for the 9th. 

Am tremendously sorry not to be with you but I pledge 
you my word I'll be with you on the 140th anniversary, and 
you won't have to scout all over Hades to find me either. 
We may both be on. deck, here on this earthly deck, even, 
as you see the latest movement of science promises to pro- 
long life indefinitely. But I fancy they'll succeed best who 
got the best start, — such as you and I have, for instance. 

Had a jolly little fifteen-mile skite last Sunday and am to 
take a longer one next Sunday. Well, 'be virtuous and 
you'll be happy'. I know for I've tried it and have had the 
very best kind of a time all along. That saying is not or- 
iginal but i\\Q practice of its injunction is more nearly so 
with 

Yours as ever-ly, and even more so, 

E. Knoavlton. 

To The 

Scventy-Year-OIdsters Club, of Fryeburg:, Maine, for their Cel- 
ebration on Aug. 9th, 1904; from Prof. Ebenezer Knowlton, of 
San Francisco, a ^Maine — iac* by birth and boyhood. In im- 
mediate response to Notification and Invitation of A. F. Lewis, 
of the said *Burg', June JOth, J904. 

Off Hand from a Full Heart. 

I. 

Say! You Septuagesimal Crowd, over there! 

More than 3000 miles cannot keep us apart! 

Dear Seventy- Year-Oldsters! You Boys! More the G\v\sl 

I'm with you, you bet you, — in the heart of iny heart! 



(61) 



II. 

My mind's eye beholds you, — my spirit-band clasps 
Each one of your own with a grip warm and strong, 
While my psychical telephone brings to the ear 
Your greetings, your speeches, your mirth and your song. 

III. 
In the Chamber of Fancy I take down its 'phone' 
With a 'Central! Hullo! Give me Fryeburg, now, please!' 
The connection is instant, — I'm with you once more, — 
I walk through your streets, — muse under your trees, — 

IV. 
Climb again to my 'den' in the Oxford House there, — 
'Uncle John's' beaming eye makes me doubly at home; — 
In Academy's Halls I preside as of yore, — 
Lovell's Pond aud North Conway invite me to roam. 

V. 
Friend Lewis, — the Osgoods, Barrows, Sewall, — et al., — 
Make me welcome in homes such as rarely we find, — 
Noble elms wave their blessing, grand hills smile again, — 
Vales and Mountains breathe 'Peace' into heart and thro' mind. 

VI. 
Down Serpentine Saco with holiday crowd 
I float in gay barges that never return 
Except 'overland', drawn by oxen full stout, — 
For rowing up-stream both barge and crew spurn. 

VII. 
Sweet Saco's a paradox. It forever runs down 
With its freight of felicity, — loads of delight; — 
Winding ever through Paradise all the day long, 
Yet 'ox-bowing' back to Home Edeus at night. 

VIII. 
Home doors swing wide open, — hearts and dining-rooms too, 
For stomach and spirit they could ne'er keep apart;— 
They nourished and filled them in equal degree 
With gospels of food, — benedictions of heart. 

IX. 
Why Marconi's not 'in it' with his famed wireless scheme, — 
Roentgen's Ray's dim and slow, thro' skin, flesh and bone, 
Compared with these soul-phones, these mind-rays of ours, 
Their sights and their sounds, — each form, every tone. 

X. 
Other verses will sing of Fair Fryeburg's great sons; — 
Other voices will praise them as mine may not do, 



(62) 



Tell o'er their achievements, recount their bright deeds: — 
Though much they may tell, far more would be true. 

XI. 
The Fountains of Fame bubble thick in this Classic Old Vale, 
The Stars of Celebrity sprinkle its sky; — 
Its annals yield many an ancestry proud 
Whose Genius and valor with world-records vie. 

XII. 

But my Pegasus prances too proudly, I fear, 
He pulls rather hard on my light snaffle-bit, — 
So I'll e'en pull him in and bring his pace down 
To a gait and a speed to my subject more fit. 

XIII. 

It's true, to be sure, I'm not 'shy' as to years: — 
My birth-day, — the first one,— came in old Thirty-five, — 
November 18th,^says the Record, — and all the while since 
I've been hustling around and am still quite alive. 

XIV. 
Age rests not at all on an almanac's date, — 
True life we can't measure in days, months and years; — 
There are old men at twenty, young at tkree-score-and-ten; — 
Right among our own selves that truth plainly appears. 

XV. 

For all stations on earth, every duty in life; — 

You know this full well for you've often been told; — 

It makes us cheerful and hopeful, every one of us all, — 

Better seventy years young than twenty years old. 

XVI. 

Well, I'd just like to hug you, — that's so, — yes, I would, 
Bot'n the boys and the girls, each Madam, each Miss, — 
And I hope you'd all pardon, — if pardon I'd need, — 
If in Iheir case, the huggings were crowned with a kiss. 

XVII. 

So don't mind what the Almanac says, not a word! 

We cut its acquaintance some decades ago; — 

The hoar-frosts of earth's winters may sprinkle outside. 

But the youth-warmth within quickly melts them, we know. 

XVIII. 
So sing,— cheer,— joke, — laugh,— as King David oft did! 
Show Old Age the cold shoulder, — the bright-gleaming eye! 
Bid him stay till we call him, not intrude himself yet! 
That's the way we must treat him, — must you, — as do I. 



(63) 



XIX. 

God spare us! God keep us! God bless us, each one! 
Work in us and through us to cheer other hearts, 
To make our world better, — bring Peace and Good Will, — 
Till the last of our number from this sphere departs 

XX. 
Where the years are not counted, where age is unknown, — 
Sorrow, weakness and pain give place unto joy! 
What we would be we shall be, — all we wi'^h we shall know! 
God grant it. Dear Friends, to Each Girl and Each Boy! 

Prof. E. Knowi,ton, 

'Bungalow Overlook', 

No. 40, Lower Terrace, 

San Francisco, Cal., 

Thursday, July 28th, 1904. 



Dear Saco's stream winds clear and bright 

Through verdant vales, a silvery thread. 

Emerald and blue, in shade and light, 

The circling hills in beauty spread. 

O'er glittering shallows, in the morning's glow, 

Past banks, flower-decked, in Summer's gay array, 

Through vine-wreathed groves, and fields where cattle low, 

The river lingers, on its homeward way. 

Beneath the shadowing trees, whose bough and leaf 

Seen in the waters still, are doubly fair; 

Across the boom, where bleached and gnarle'd roots. 

Like fabled dragons guard a treasure rare; 

And then the perfect gem, "brave Lovell's" pond, 

A diamond, in green setting, greets our eyes. 

.\cross the shimmering waters, the dark pines beyond. 

Home of our Fathers, loved Pequawket lies. 

O Friend! You've reached the spreading lake at last, 

The broader, freer life of thought and rest! 

Your hands can drop the oars, content with effort past, 

While heaven's winds waft yoji toward the glowing West. 

Long may your bark float on Life's quiet waters, — 

The past around you, in its light and shade, 

The present glad with greetings, from Fryeburg's sons and 

daughters — 
While you face a radiant future, with spirit unafraid. 



(64) 

And when at last, night's shadows enshroud the lake and valley. 
When song of bird is hushed, and loving lips are dumb, 
The lonely, star-lit path, short as the Red Man's "carry", 
"Will lead you to your friends again, and to 3»'our Father's hon)e- 

Minneapolis, July 14th, 1904. Carolyn E. McMillan. 



To A. F« Lewis, 

on his 
One Hundred and First Birthdayl* 

You say you are three score and ten; 
Of all the silly, foolish men! 
Last year you owned to thirty more, 
Down on the banks of Lovewell's shore. 
Why try your friends on years to swindle. 
And make believe your age can dwindle; 
When all the truth is said and done. 
You know you are one hundred and one! 

Carrie Gibson Newman. 

*In 1903 Mrs. Newman presented to Mr. Lewis a Centennial Birthday Cake. At 
the recent Festival the same lady presented him another Birthday Cake, inscribed 
as follows: 

A. F. h., 

1803 1904. 

Aug. 9th, 



For several summers, Prof. A. W. Phillips and the 
late, lamented Prof. J. W.Qibbs of Yale, with their wives 
and friends have been in the habit of calling on Mr. Lewis. 
Aug. 26th, Prof. Phillips, wife and friends made their an- 
nual call. It was a matter of mutual regret that we did not 
know we were so near each other (they being in Conway) 



(65) 

on Aug. 9th. H;id they known of the celebration they cer- 
tainly would have been present, thereby adding joy to their 
own lives, and increased pleasure to the Festival. 

Aug. 29th, we were pleased to receive the following 
poetic greeting from Prof. Phillips ; 

On the train to Conn., Aug. 27, 1904. 

Dear Mr. Lewis: I have read, with interest and delight. 
The Press accounts you loaned me and which I returned last night. 
That was indeed a pretty verse*; that note* was unmixed joy — 
My heart was warmed to read your words; you are a grand old boy! 

Were those, my friend, upon the stage, the jewels of the town, 
The only ones, from '34, to decorate its Crown — 
Your gallant heart I know responds, "The diadem of Pearis 
In Fryeburg is the noble baud of seventy-year girls". 

Yours, A. W. Phii,lipS. 



Bristol, N. H., Aug. 8th, 1904. 

Old Friend, whom I but once have met, 
Long years since then have flown! 
But the old home to which you came, 
Is still to-day my own. 
As then, among the maple boughs 
All day the robins call; 
My sisters' briar rose still clings 
About the gray stone wall; 
The orange lillies in the grass 
In tawny beauty grow; 
And all around me seems to speak 
Of days long, long, ago; — 
The sweet days when the hearts I loved 
The sunshine shared with me; 
The glad days when I walked with Hope 
As now with Memory. 
*See p. 2. 



(66) 

Nay wait[ Hope has not failed us yetr 
I,et not our hearts despond I 
The best of Life, the best of Love, 
Are not here, but beyond. 

Annie D. G. Robinson.* 

I greatly regret sending these very incomplete lines ; but 
I have been truly ill, and have had very unusual demands 
upon my time, every moment has had some new call forme. 
I send the verses simply as an expression of sincere interest, 
for your welfare and also for the success of your l)irthday 
gathering. They are ivorthless otherwise. 

A. D. G. R. 



My dear Mr. Lewis, 

It surely not true is, 

You count seventy years as your own; 

The summers in lightness 

Have given you their brightness, 

The winters have let you alone. 

Although I'm not present 

On this day so pleasant, 

To wish you all )oys without end; 

While others will meet you, 

All eager to greet }'Ou, 

These words bid you think of your friend, 

Annie Shorev. 
Whiteface, N. H., August 5, 1904. 



My dear Mr. Lewis: 

My friend, I come with wishes glad 
To give you hearty greeting. 
And thank you for your cordial call 
To join your happy meeting. 

*"Marian Douglass." 



(67) 

I really feel as if coy Fame 
Had opened wide her portals, 
And bade me enter — even me — 
To sit with the "Immortals". 

But all who enter that domain 
Rich gifts of song are bringing — 
How can one enter with mute lips, 
When all around are singing? 

I only trust that on that day 

I'll meet the true vibration; 

My heart in tune to catch the note — 

A real Marconi station. 

And so, each voice that bids you joy. 
That tells of glad things taught you; 
Of sunny days- or sorrow's haze — 
Whate'er the years have brought you, 

Will find an echo in my heart 
When all your friends are voicing 
Their wishes-hopes-for future years, 
I, too, shall be rejoicing. 

Verj"^ sincerely your friend, 
Hanover, Me., August 5, 1904. HELEN M. Staples. 



Bridgton, Me., Aug. 8th, 1904. 

A. F. Lewis, Esq., 

My Good Friend : 

I received, some time ago, your kind invitation to be 
with the young old men to-morrow on the anniversary oc- 
casion. 1 ought to have acknowledged it at the time, but I 
hardly knew what answer to make. I have all along want- 
ed to be present at the happy function, but ill health ren- 
dered your invitation so uncertain of acceptance that I de- 
ferred definite reply. 

As it is, I feel that I must be obliged to remain at home. 
I have for some time been compelled to absent myself from 



(68) 

out-of-town and nearly all in-town merrymakings. If I at- 
tend, I have to pay deai'ly for it thereafter. Whenever I 
see you, and realize what joy it is for one to be continuous- 
ly in perfect health, I can but think how much you have 
to be thankful for. 

As a little heart-olfering, 1 have just composed the en- 
closed rhymed tribute, which voi(;es my own sentiments, 
and also, I'm quite sure, the feelings of the many who know 
you. 

Trustino; that vou and your friends will have the best of 
good times, and that my own health be restored and my 
life prolonged so I may l)ring my old violin and play a tune 
or two at your one-hundredth birthday anniversary, I sub- 
scribe myself 

Your Friend and Well-Wisher, 

Charles O. Stickney. 

To Alonzo F. Lewis, 
On His Seventieth Birthday. 

Three-score-and-ten! How few the men 

At seventy can say, "I'm strong 

And well and 'young' as when among 

Coevals, now a vanished throng!" 

Aye! Fortune has to thee been kind; 

Yet not to her alone the meed, 

For thou hast shown it pays, in mind 

And body both, to nature heed. 

I say it with no fulsome voice; 

Thou walkest e'er in "manhood's pride". 

And we have reason to rejoice 

O'er manhood thus exemplified. 

Dear friend, I'm speaking from the heart 

In wishing thee still many years. 

With health and happiness thy part — 

Life's vale to thee no "vale of tears!" 

Charles O. Sticknp:v. 
Bridgton, Me., Aug. 9th, 1904. 



(69) 
To my Friend Lewis* 

Here's a health to friend Lewis, the Fryeburg Savant, 
May his life on this earth be happy and. long; 
And all through his life, on each dawning day, 
May lots of good things be coming his way: 
And when at the last he departs from earth's shore. 
He will have hosts of friends his loss to deplore;, 
But we hope that his end long deferred may be, 
Thus says his old Friend — that is, G. A. T. 

George A. Thomas. 
Portland, Aug. 9th, 1904. 



Aug. 15tb, U)04. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

I enclose my very crude lines, as I promised ; if I could 
have read thern, I think they might have sounded better 
to the ear than they appear to the eye, on reading 
them — ht)wever, you must have some bitter with the sw^eet ; 
and really you had so many sweet and lofty thoughts sent 
to you they ought to make even the wintry days seem 
warm and glowing. 

It must be heavenly in F. to-day ; there is a clear bright 
air here, and no fog, and how much more beautiful in F. 
On our way home there was a beautiful little shower, 
but just this side of Cumberland Mills the fog began to 
come in, and when we reached the station, we were closely 
enveloped with wet, cold, relentless fog. This is the first 
all clear day. I hope you are taking great care of Miss 
Loveitt — and are putting great streaks of fat in her way, 
that she may acquire and possess them, thoroughly. I know 
she is enjoying your living air — and her feather bed. 
Please give her my love, and also kind regards to the rest 



(70) 

of the household — and with the hest and brightest hope for 
a happy winter for yourself, 

I ara, very hastily. 

Yours cordially, 

Elizabeth W. Vaenum. 



Lines to 

Mf ♦ Alonzo F* Lewis, 
on the celebration of the 70th anniveisary of his 
birth-day, by one of his Portland Fiiends. 

Among the hills of granite, 
Midst the music of the Pines; 
Fair Nature builds a dwelling place 
On grantl and lofty lines. 
And this place is e'er the cradle, 
For some loved and honored names, 
Who shall rule in wondrous circles, 
And play at Nations' games. 

And nature dearest mother, 
With heart of depth and strength; 
Gathers all her loving children, 
From the country's wealth and leugtli- 
Aud in this harvest-time so fair — 
The best from which the view is, 
With heart of oak, and steadfast mien. 
That is her bright "boy", Lewis. 

With moderation, but success, 

He wins upon the heart; 

And permeates like atmosphere. 

As if he were its part. 

And like the radiant summer time 

Of sunshine and of flowers, 

With wit and jollity he gives 

A zest to happy hours. 



(71) 

From da}- to cla}^ and hour to hour, 
Oh let us never curb 
Our wit, our joy, our love, -our power, 
Our ever ripening thought, our heaven-sent dower; 
But roam with him in grove and woodland bower, 
Gaining fresh grace, new plants that late may flower, 
Like Fryeburg. 
Portland, Aug. 9th, 1904. 



If Time has gently dealt with you 

Oh friend, of many years, 

If 3'ou can face the western sky 

Unmoved by doubts or fears; 

If your strong frame is still erect, 

Your step is firm and free, 

Undimmed your vision that has seen 

So much and variously; 

If you still view with keen delight 

The sunshine and the cloud. 

Mountain and Forest, Lake and Stream, 

The fallow fields and ploughed; 

If that sweet vale enchants you still, 

As when first met your gaze, 

The Saco's magic circle, and 

The far-away blue haze; — 

Though personally we may not come 

Our deference to show; 

Or here, or there, we doff our hats 

And make obeisance low'. 

Chas. M. Wiley. 
Orange, N. J., HEI.EN M. Wiley. 

June 20, 1904. 

To Mr. A. F-. Lewis : 

Acknowledging the invitation to be present at a cel- 
ebration of his seventieth birthday at Fryeburg, Maine, on 
Aug. 9th, 1904. 



(72) 

Hiram, Maine, Aug. 9th, 1904. 

A. F. Lewis, Esq., 
Fiyeburg , 

My dear Cousin : 

Allow me briefly to congratulate you and your asso- 
ciates on this festive occasion that marks an event so im- 
portant in your long, useful, and honorable careers. 



Pure as the softly falling snow, 
Or the crystal waters that onward flow; 
Warm as the sun beam's golden ray, 
Is the greeting we bring on this joyous day. 
Long be the chain of peaceful years, 
Untouched by sorrow, undimmed by tears; 
And loyal the friendship, tried and true. 
That shall gladden the years that wait for you. 
On each golden link, in Friendship's chain, 
On each pleasant home 'mid the hills of Maine, 
May the blessings of Heaven rest for aye. 
As it rests on this perfect, summer day. 

As Ever, 
Fraternally Yours, 

Ll,EWELLYN A. Wadsworth. 



(73) 



LETTERS. 



New York, June 20, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

In my own name and in that of Mrs. Abbott 
and my son, I write to extend our congratulations and fe- 
licitations to you, in company with the many friends who 
will meet with you personally, on the occasion of your 
seventieth birthday. 

You and I have traversed very nearly the same number 
of years in the same country, and look back over the most 
dramatic of centuries, and I do not well see how it is possi- 
ble for any one to have lived through these years of strain 
and trial without an increased faith in God, in his fellow- 
men, and in that democracy which is founded upon this 
faith . 

Very sincerely, 

Lyman Abbott. 



Dear Mr. Lewis : 

I was very glad to receive an invitation for Aug. 
9th. It cannot fail of being a most happy day, and I am so 
glad it happens during vacation. 

I shall surely come. I hope June 23d may come to you 



(74) 

a great many times, always bringing happiness. In three 
weeks I hope to see you. 

Sincerely your friend, 

Hattie Abbott. 
June 5, 1904, 
Attleboro, Mass., 
152 Union St. 



Washington City, D. C, Aug. 9, 1904. 
Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

Fryeburg, Me., 
My dear Friend : 

Your cordial invitation to be present at the cel- 
ebration of the 70th birthday of yourself and fellow towns- 
people, on Aug. 9tb, 1904, has been received, and I greatly 
regret that my necessary presence in this city on that day 
will prevent me from being present. If I shall continue to 
live on this earth for ten years more, I shall then have 
reached my three-score-and-ten years, and lam antici})ating 
that these ten will be what I trust and believe the last ten 
of your life have been, the happiest decade of the whole 
seven. 

I send my hearty greetings to you and to all your fellow 
septuagenarians, and wish you a most happy and interesting 
celebration of the day. You have lived in a most eventful 
period of our history ; and when your responsibilities in this 
life shall cease, you can enter the syjiritual world knowing 
that your lives have added something to the sura of human 
knowledge and goodness now filling the civilized world on 
earth. 

May you all be blessed with active life and useful occupa- 
tion for many more years to come. 

Yours very sincerely, 

Job Barnard. 



(75) 

The following is from one of the boy^ Gen. Farving* 
ton assisted while in Portland, and who is now principal of 
a school of 400 boys in Newburg, N. Y. 

Newburg, N. Y., August 5th, U)04. ' 
Gen. E. C. Farrington, 

Very clear friend : 
Thank you for your very kind invitation to attend the 
reception by you and your fellow Septuagenarians. Dis- 
tance alone prevents me attending bodily, but not in spirit, 
for space has no limit in which to hold the lietter })art of 
man. 

Congratulations for the mere existing physically until 
the end of your seventh decade may not be in order, but 
the congratulations that I extend to you are those which 
eulogize the thousands of kindnesses which have been as 
fragrant flowers strewn along the pathway of others. I 
think of the many whose voices would wish you our bless- 
ings and gratitude, for you are the plant whose fruit we 
have enjoyed. Your influence over our early life has 
brought to us the real fruit of life. Let the result of our 
lives be to you like the morning breeze and like grace let 
it All your soul with joy. 1 wish you every good thing and 
many years of usefulness. 

Cordially yours, 

Anthony Bareett. 



Portland, Maine, June 15th, '04 
To Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

Dear Friend : 

Many thanks for the invitation received 
to birthday reception of the Sons and Daughters of Frye- 



(76) 

hviYg, born in 1834. 

May you see many more returns of the day (June 23d) 
and always feel young as now. 

With best wishes of Mrs. Baker, my Daughter and my- 
self, 

Mrs. Jas. S. Bedlow. 



Mount Morris, N. Y., July 4th, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis ; 

As J am not gifted as a prose or poetic writer, 
I can only extend my thanks to you for remembering me so 
kindly in an invitation to be present at your Jubilee on the 
J-tth of August. Were it possible (which it is not) it would 
give me great pleasure to see you once again my old friend, 
and to join in the festivities you are preparing for the re- 
union of those born on your natal day. It will no doubt 
be a joyous time for you all, and I wish particularly to ex- 
tend my congratulations to you for your wonderful preser- 
Tation both bodily and mentally. How very few there are 
who can say as much for themselves as you can. I have often 
heard of you through our mutual friend Mrs, Stone, and it 
was always to inform me that you w ere the same Mr. Lewis 
T had known in former years. No one could appreciate your 
acquaintance and friendship more highly than I have done 
and it has always been the one bright spot in my short abode 
at Fryeburg. 

With my best wishes for a happy and joyous reunion be- 
lieve me, 

Always your Friend, 

Elizabeth A. Bradbury. 



(V7) 

Portland, Jmii. 21st, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewi;^ : 

I must apologize most sincere!}^ for having -left your 
letter unanswered, and for having kept the inclosed articles 
so long a time. It is not often one renews an acquaintance 
after so many years. Indeed it seems quite remarkable we 
should each, as well as all the other members of that famous 
})arty*, be still alive and able to renew acquaintance. I am 
not in New York just at present and possibly shall not be 
there this winter — and in answer to your question, I have 
not the pleasure of being related to the Bradley or Lewis 
family of Fryeburg ; my Bradley and Lewis ancestors being 
all from the neighborhood of Portland. 

You speak of your approaching birthday. Perhaps it 
is over now, it is certainly not too late to offer my congrat- 
ulations and good wishes for the coming year. 

Many thanks for the articles regarding Fryeburg which I 
read with interest. It must be a very beautiful place. 
People who live in Maine are very fortunate — especially if 
it be by the mountains or the sea. 

With many thanks for your remembrance, 

Sincerely, 
Harriet Lewis Bradley. 



Portland, August 8, 1904. 
Dear brother Lewis : 

Thank you for your kind invitation to visit 
Fryeburg and yourself to-morrow, and I wish it were possi- 
ble to do so, but visitors and family cares prevent. 

*A Wliite Mt. Ramble in July, '73; camping out three weeks, sleeping in tents- 
walking from Centre Harbor, through the Pemigewassett Valley and Bethlehem; 
over Mt. Washington and down to Bethel, 125 miles. 

The party were Maj. John M. Gould, Elizabeth M. Gould, Maria D. Gould, Hat- 
tie L. Bradley. Mrs. C. Blanchard, Lucy N. Blanchard and Winthrop Jordan of 
Portland; Sam'l M. Welch, J. M. McDougal and Emma S. Gilbert of N. Y.; A. F. 
Lewis of Fryeburg and Willie Barbour of Bangor. 



(78) 

I heartily congratulate you on having arrived at so many 
years of happiness and distinction, and I trust that you may 
round up ,your next decade b^ completing a history of" 
Fryeburg. 

May your Anniversary Day prove a pei'fect one and may 
you be able to say with Longfellow, 

"This is my birthday, and a happier one was never mine". 
Sincerely your friend and brother Collector, 

Hubbard W. Bryant. 



Saturday, August 6, 1904. 
15 Gray Street, Portland, Maine. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

I am indeed glad to know that life is so bright and 
beautiful to you, and particularly at this time of your 
Anniversary Celebration. Yery great is my regret in not 
being able to participate in the pleasures of the festal hour, 
but my hope is that it may be a day to be wreathed in gold- 
en inemorien. 

Will you please accept of the enclosed memento as a 
token of my sincere appreciation of your kindly and gra- 
cious courtesy to me and which will always enshrine you 
so pleasantly in the secret chambers of my heart where are 
hung the pictures only of those I truly cherish. 

My dear friend, may you sail peacefully o'er the sea of 
time, and may your bark be fanned by balmy breezes : 
and at last anchor in that blessed haven of joy and felicity 
in the ever beautiful city of our God. 

Very cordially, 

James Clark Burnham. 

"Thy gardens aud thy goodly walks 
Continually are green 

Where grow such sweet and fragrant flowers 
As no where else are seen." 
"Blessed are they who enter through the Gates into the City." 



(79) 

964 Saint Marks Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y., 
August 11th, 1904. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

1 am very sorry that I did not receive your note 
in season to respond to your request, l>ut it is not too late 
for me to write and thank you for y-our very kind words a- 
hout my dear husband, who so dearly loved Fryeburg and 
all its people. My son has just graduated from college, a 
year ago in June, and is now started in business. He will 
probaV>ly drift into the right }>lace after a time. He joins in 
kind remembrances to all who remember us. 

Thanking you for your invitation I am most sincerely, 

Mks. H. B. Cakpenter. 



99 Pinekney Street, 
Boston, 4 August, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

I have to thank you in behalf of both Mrs. Choate and 
myself for your very kind invitation to the celebration of 
Old Honje Week at Fryeburg this month. It was extreme- 
ly good of you to remember us after an alisence of so many 
years from our native state and from that neighborhood with 
which we were both familiar in earlier life. It would give 
us great pleasure, I assure you, to meet old friends again, 
but my engagements keep me here through the summer, 
and, if Mrs. Choate comes to Maine, it will be to visit our 
more particular "Old Home" in Bridgton. 

We send our congratulations upon your having reached 
the l)orders of those years promised to those who remember 
in honor the generations before them, and our good wishes 
that these years may be many and happy ones. 

Cordially, 

Isaac B. Choate. 
Mr. Alonzo F. Lewis. 



(80) 

Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

Dear Friend : 

An apology is due you for our iong de- 
lay in replying to your letter with invitation, the date of 
which we do not recall, as, somehow the letter has been 
mislaid. 

Had we taken the trip we planned, to go East for this 
summer, to include a stay at Fryeburg, we would have ac- 
cepted your invitation ; as it is, must send regrets. 

Your party is to be really novel, so apart from the stiff 
conventionalities of such functions. I predict for you a real 
feast in an interesting interchange of ideas which have been 
embodied in acts, made practical, and their power felt. 

"As man is God's universal idea, he must be the reflection 
of all right ideas. He is not subject to biith, growth and 
decay, and cannot count himself old, as time is no part of 
eternity." 

You surely have dwelt in this realm of the real, and above 
the false consciousness of old age and decrepitude which has 
preserved your body, as well as your mentality to still enjoy 
the true blessings bestowed by promise on all wdio "Keep 
His Commandments". 

We regret we cannot share with you, and your many 
friends, this feast. 

Sincerely yours, 

Abigail F. Colby, 
John A. Colby. 
Chicago, July 28, 1904. 



(81) 

Portland, July 18, 1904. 



Mv dear Friend : 



I so seldom write a letter now-a-days, I scarcely know 
how. My eyes have been so dim I could not see well e- 
nough to write as I used to, and being so unaccustomed to 
[)utting my thougljts onto pai)er, of late, I may not send 
you such a greeting as I would wish, on the anniversary of 
your seventieth l)irthday. 

I congratulate you on the long life you have spent, which 
has seemed so happy. You have been blessed with health, 
good society and good friends. All are still continued to 
be with you and may they remain with you while you sta}' in 
this beautiful world which you have enjoyed so much, and 
may you have as many returns of this anniversary as you 
wish for, then pass on to the blessed immortalit}' wdiich we 
trust awaits us farther on. I will ask you to offer the same 
congratulations and wishes to your confreres, who assemble 
w^ith 3'ou to celebrate their seventieth mile stone, and with 
whom I am acquainted, the most, if not all. I should like 
to l)e with you on this occasion, but camiot. 

Thank you for your kindly friendship and your many 
kindnesses since I have been so afflicted in these late years. 
Very sincerely your friend, 

Jane Frye Coolidge. 



Bridgton, August 14, 1904. 
Dear Friend : 

I am sorry indeed to have my good wishes expressed 
too late for the evening of Aug. 9th. I would have been 
very glad to be present at the birthday 'party — and I did in- 
tend to send my little word of greeting in season. 

I trust the event was a most enjoyable one and that you 
may "all live long and prosper" is the earnest wish of both 



(82) 

Mr, Cook and mj^self. Fryeburg, and all connected there- 
with, has always been especially dear to nie since my three 
years of life there. I look back upon those years now with 
a good deal of [)leasuve — Fryeburg is a dear old town — and 
I always stand up for it when occasion otiers. 

I had a long talk with Stuart Barrows last fall on the train, 
and he gave me the whereabouts of many of the old Frye- 
burg friends— I was glad to hear from them. 

I must again wish you health and happiness. I wonder 
if you may be a I'elative of mine. My mother's maiden 
name was Lewis. 

Sincerely yours, 

Katherine L. Stone Cook. 



Bangor House, Bangor, Aug. 8, 1904. 
My dear Mv. Lewis : 

You made a mistake, when you looked for your age in 
the King James Bible. You should have consulted the Re- 
vised Version. I am sure that that would have said noth- 
ing to the effect that you were born in 1884. Any care- 
ful translation would not put you a minute on the slvady side 
oftifty. The best of it is that you still feel the vigoi" and 
cheer of sturdy manhood. And I trust that all the other 
memliers of '34 will find themselves just as haj^py and filled 
with the jo}^ of living as you are, and with eyes still turn- 
ed to the morning. I wish that I might be there in person 
to extend congratulations to j^ou and to your fellow young- 
folks of seventy summers. But as that is impossible, ac- 
cept the written good wishes of 

Yours sincerely, 

W. E. Decrow. 



(83) 

Hampton, N. H., Aug. 5tb, 1904. 
Mj dear Mr. Lewis : 

I was very much pleased to hear from you and 
might have answered sooner, only 1 waited, expecting 
Blanche C. would stop here on her way back as she intended 
to — but suddenly changed her plans and went directly 
home — she may come here later. xMany thanks for your 
cordial invitation to come to your "Pow Wow"; should 
think it was a very happy idea— no doubt you will have 
quite a crowd and a very nice time, surely I would like to 
l)e there if I could. But we could not go away at this sea- 
son of the year — not in Aug.; — but my husband unites 
with me in sending thanks and hoping you will have a very 
Tinppy time, and many more pleasant years to enjoy ; now- 
a-days people hardly l)egin to grow old at seventy. 

1 have thought of my Frj^eburg fi'iends many times. 
Miss Haley, (I can't think of her married name), she was 
a Fryeburg girl— visited a friend here about ten years ago, 
and through her I heard about some of the people ;— have 
heard nothing since until I rec'd your note. 

When Blanche said she was going to F. I said I would 
like her to enquire for some of my old friends — and spoke 
of you and some others — she writes me Frank Charles is 
not living — I wonder where Sue is — and would like to know 
about Alice Hastings — she was such a lovely girl, she wrote 
to me last. After I married I drop|)ed out from writing- 
many letters. We live in a very quiet way. My husband 
has been in poor health much of the time — and in ftict did 
so much travelling when he was young that he does not 
care to go very much anywhere now. At present he is feel- 
ing very well, so long as he stays near the sea. We are 
both very fond of reading and manage to keep very well 
supplied. I visit much more than he does. Old age has 
not seemed to trouble either of us very much yet, — except 
some grey hairs. Do you still board — or have you an es- 



(84) 

tablishment of your own ? I wonder if Mr. Shirley is living : 
if so remember me to him. 

Blanche seemed very much pleased in meeting you— you 
were very kind to call, and take her over to the old Charles 
House — she says "you are very nice". Unless she conies 
here soon she will likely write me more a1x)ut her visit 
there. Possibly sometime we may take a trip to the Mts. 
and come back by way of F. I would like to do so. 

Thanking you again for your invitation — with lots of 
good wishes, 

I am your friend, 

Mes. R. p. DeLakcey, 

Hampton, 

N. H. 



Concord, Aug. 1904. 
Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

My young friend : 

Your circular received some weeks since in re- 
gard to the gathering of the hoijs and girls of ''34 at your 
place, serves to deepen the impression I have had for some 
time — -that there are no old people now. How can there be 
with so much going on in the world to watch and be inter- 
ested in, and perhaps take part in? 

Those of us who have been especially favored in having 
the last three quarters of the 19th century allotted us, have 
been permitted to see the beginnings of almost everything 
in regard to the welfare and comfort of mankind. Railways, 
telegraphs, telephones, ocean cable, electricity, and wire- 
less telegraphy. I said to myself then — well, what next I 

Just here I am reminded of a visit I made to your place 



(85) 

some years airo — by rail to the Weirs — thence by boat to 
Center Harbor, and from there a long stage ride— finishing 
the last few miles by private convej^ance. Why I recall it 
just now is — because the absorbing topic of conversation 
then was the survey for the railway through the NotcJi. It 
couldn't be done some thought but it was done and followed 
some time later by a still greater achievement — the Summit 
Railway, and noyf an Automobile to the top in about 30 
minutes. 

Let us stop a minute now and catch our breath — and 
think of something else, for instance. Grand old Niagara 
Falls being put to work to furnish light and power to distant 
cities. 

I begin to feel as if the world had shrunk so that it is 
simply an Annex to our great and blessed Country. That 
is constantly expanding. Just now the war in Japan and 
the Panama Canal seem to be the principle things to look 
after. Of course Roosevelt's election seems assured so we 
don't have to feel very anxious about that. 

Well, enough of this rambling to come down to personal 
matters. Soon after receiving your circular I took it' in to 
read to Fidelia Luey — remembering you knew the family — 
and she is the only one left, and as she is one of the "Shut- 
ins" of course she was especially pleased as it was hei- 70th 
birthday, June 20th, '34. She charged me to send her 
best wishes — in which I heartily join that your gathering 
may have nothing to mar its pleasantness and success. 

Very sincerely yours, 

Mary S. Dole. 
77 Pleasant St., 

Concord, N. H. 



(86) 

West Bkidgewater, Ma.«s., 
June 23, 1904. 
My dear Lewis : 

Many congnitulations on this beauti'ful morn of n 
rare ffune day which completes for you seven wonderful 
decades of this marvelous experience which we call "life". 
Surely for one of yonr 3'outhful proclivities I had not 
thought of time as skip])ing along so fast, and had been still 
regarding you as actually young in years and the ever pop- 
ular beau of the Fryeburg young ladies — just as of vore — 
and even now, after your chronological reference to the Old 
Family Bible, still think that the last may be true ; but yet 
that you, Lewis, are actually "three-score-and-ten" comes 
as a genuine and almost bewildering surprise. 

It would give me great pleasure on Aug. 9th to look in on 
old Fryeburg, and with smypathetic spirit behold how that 
jolly band of young old boys and girls will "paint red" with 
gaiety the old town, where youthful Webster tauglit and 
pay marked and well-merited honor to Webster's ever youth- 
ful and enthusiastic Fryeburg historian, whose life-long 
pride it has been that he wouhl rather starve amid the scenes 
and good fellowship of old Oxford's noble country town 
than win fiime and luxury elsewhere ! 

It has ])een one of the rare [)leasures of the writer's 
somewhat varied and widely-travelled life to have enjoyed 
Fryeburg's generous and hearty hospitality in those former 
days on which memory now so fondly dwells, and were it 
reasonably possible he would certainly accept your kind in- 
vitation to the good time of Aug. 9th. The Saco, Jockey 
Cap, Lovewell's Pond and the open homes and warm hearts 
of the good friends in Fryeburg are still inducements with 
which to conjure ! But for some time I have been arran- 
ging to leave on July 1st for a long trip into the South and 
West, where T have some professional engagements in Au- 
gust, which will probably debar me the great pleasure of 



(87) 

heino' in Fryehiiiii, outwardly, but in spirit I shall be with 
you and yours, partaking of all the good time ! 

And now, my dear Mr. Lewis, most sincerely thanking 
you for counting me in your list of old friends, I wish you 
and yours all the hapi)iness of a young-old-age. May you 
and all your friends ever keep young in spirit, and then 
when we cross the Great Divide we shall be entering on 
Immortal Youth whose mountains and rivers and miles 
wnll not in the least sever true friends. 

With most cordial and sincere esteem, 
Your friend, 

HoAVARD C. Dunham. 



Chicago, III., August 6, 1904. 
Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

Fry e burg, Maine, 
Dear Mr. Lewis : — 

Your cheery invitation to be present at the celebration 
of your seventieth birthday was received, and I am very 
sorry that circumstances prevent me from accepting. I 
send you my hearty greetings and best wishes. 

I do not believe that you are an old man except by the 
arbitrary and artificial test of mere years. A man is as old 
as he feels, and you evidently do not feel old. I expect 
that, when I revisit Fryeburg, any time within the next 
few years, I shall find you the same reckless, dare-devil fel- 
low that you have always been. 

I hope for you and your guests a very pleasant evening 
on August 9th, and I should be glad to be remembered to 
any one who remembers me. 

Cordially yours, 

Clinton B. Evans. 



(88) 

Philadelphia, August 1, 1904. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

Please accept my congratulations on the health and 
\'igor in which your Seventieth birthday iinds you, and 
my best wishes for many more years of peaceful and happy 
life. 

Yours sincerely, 

Nelson F. Evans. 



"The Oxford". 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

Mrs. Barrows went to Portland yesterday and hag 
been detained there longer than she expected, so she can- 
not be here to offer her birthday greeting to you to-day ; 
and as I have no one to go with me to your reception I 
.send my congratulations to you in this way ; wishing you 
every blessing in all your coming years. 

Very cordially yours, 

Lucy Mayo Fay. 
Aug. 9, 1904, 



Washington, D. C, June 28, 1904. 
A. F. Lewis, Esq., 
Dear Friend : 

Your kind and most esteemed communication of 
recent date, bearing the significant heading "1834 — 1904", 
was duly received. I beg you to pardon me for not raak- 



ins: earlier acknowiedgement of your favor, but as your 
frolic does not come off for a num!)er of weeks, it is not too 
iate to say that we congratulate you on safely passing the 
"three-score-and-ten" goal, and sincerely hope that there 
may be no happening to interfere with or prevent the suc- 
cessful "pulling oti'" of the final act of your program set for 
August yth. 1 have a very strong desire to visit you on 
the occasion of your celebration, but cannot now say that it 
is probal)le I can come. ^Ve hope to go to Maine some time 
in August, but I fear it will have to be after the date of 
your party. I will remember you, and you may expect a 
souvenir from me of some kind. 

With kindest regards, I am 
Yours truly, 

Granville Fernald. 



Savoy Hotel, Bad Homburg, July 29, 1904. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

I wish to offer my congratulations to you on the 
Seventieth anniversary of your birth. May you live long 
and be happy is the wish of all your friends. 

I sailed from Philadelphia on the 9th of April in the 
Nordland, having had a fine voyage. I spent a w^eek in 
London, and five weeks in Paris. I shall probably remain 
here until the 15th of Aug., and then go to Switzerland and 
Italy, sailing for home Sept. 6th, per S. S. "Aurania". In 
London I went to Mr. Choate's 4th of July reception, and 
found them nervous over the political outlook at home. 
People are very anxious about the Eastern War — whether 
there is to be a general war or no. Nobody can tell. 
Hoping to see you in Washington next winter, I am, 

Yours very sincerely, 

Wm. S. Flagg. 



(90) 

Dear Mr. Lewis : 

On my return home to-day I found your biography, 
and the invitation to your Birthday party. The latter too 
late for an acceptance, much to my regret. You and I are 
travelling along life's journey almost side by side, and for 
like reasons, do not recognize any approach to old age. 

I congratulate you, and Avish for you many more l)irth- 
days without the thought that the passing years are 
brin^ina' vou nearer and nearer to old aae. 

Sincerely, 

Wm. p. Frye. 
Lewiston, June 8th, 1904. 



Montreal, July 20, '04, 

Dear Friend : 

Your kind invitation for Aug. 9th reached me some 
days ago and I v.>'rite to say that I fear I shall not be able to 
be with you on that interesting occasion. I myself am a})- 
proaching my 70th anniversary, which wnll overtake me 
in something less than another twelve-month. I regret to 
say that I cannot wholly echo your triumphant paan on 
the absence of the numerous ills that advanced age us- 
ually brings in its train ; and yet I have nothing to complain 
of in this respect. Rheumatism, a failing voice, loss of 
hearing, and one or two other slight infirmities, are a mere 
nothing in comparison with the experience of several, even 
younger men and women, of my acquaintance ; and so I am 
looking forward, if not to Nirvana, at least to something 
approaching that ideal state, in so far as our gross Occiden- 
tal conceptions can understand what it is, for my Septua- 
genarian portion. 



(91) 

1 am sure your meeting will l)e ajoUij one, and one in 
which the imnioi'tal Oliver's notion of "gray-l)eiird mirth" — 
not to speak of that of the o})posite gender-— will be fully 
realized. Again expressing my regret at not being !i])le to 
J>e thereto see and hear, I remain, dear brother, 

Very sincerely, 

Edwin Gould. 



Intervale, N. H., 

Auoust 20th, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

You see I am verj' near to .you. 

I am sure that the bi'ave Ca})t. I^ovell, wlio must have 
known this intervale, would have thought it near if he 
heard of a gathering here of Pe(]uawket wariiors. 

My memory as to the date deceived me, or j'ou would 
have received this note earlier ; for as I said to you, I want- 
ed to write you, if only to congratulate you upon your ad- 
vance upon the noble line of three-score-years^and-ten. 

More than this, I have to congratulate you on celebrating 
this birthday in Fryeburg. I hope you had with you my 
dear and honored friend, the President of the United States 
Senate, whose ancestor was the god-father of Fryeburg. 
This great leader of the people, recognized officially and 
unotlicially as the leader of the Congress of the United 
States has welcomed me every morning of the winter in the 
Senate Chamber, and introduced me to the Senate for our 
morning religious service. One could not ask for a sponsor 
so distinguished. He justly receives the honor and regard 
of the country he serves so well. 

I knew Fryeburg first from the early memories of Lov- 
ell's fight. For the last half of mv active life, it has been 



(92) 

endeared to me as beiiipf the Inrthplaee and early home of 
Mrs. Judith W. Andrews : a hidy so distinguished in the 
practical charities of Boston, or I might say, of the world. 
I have been in the habit of calling our friend Mrs. Andrews 
by the familiar address of "My dear Colleague", so entirely 
has she relieved me from personal care in the daily over- 
sight of the charities of a large parish. And her name is 
known in India as it is known in New England. I hoj^e the 
Fryeburg Academy remembers that this distinguished lady 
learned her Greek and prepared herself for college with 
them. 

Wishing you, dear Sir, as happy years as I have enjoyed 
since my seventy-tirst birthday, 

I am always yours, 

Edward E. Hale. 



Ellsworth, Me., July 16, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

My engagements are such that I cannot attend 
the celebration of your seventieth birthday, as I should be 
glad otherwise to do. 

You will be sure that all my good wishes, with pleasant 
recollections, go with the occasion. 

Very truly yours, 

Eugene Hale. 
Mr. A. F. Lewis. 



(03) 

Coleridge, Nebraska, Aug-. 1, 1904. 
My dear Friend : 

It has never before been my privilege to address one who 
has reached Nirvana. The mind poMer that has brought 
you to that blessed state has already secured you a place a- 
mong the stars, the stars in that galaxy of literary lights, 
which will beam upon Fryeburg with unusual brilliancy on 
the eventful ninth of August. 

I wish I might be jiresent to see your transit across the 
Psalmist's line of "three-score-and-ten"'. 1 am sure it will 
be a brilliant occasion, and that the wit and humor to be 
heard on that evening will perpetuate your youth. 
God bless the love that keeps us young, 
And gives us beauty ever new,— 
And courage for the war of life. 
We would not give the garnered fruit, 
In our old houses gray with age. 

For all the flowers that youth would wreathe about its glow- 
ing form. 

ISlav the spirit which has brought yon to this happy pe- 
riod of your life be with you always, forever young. 

Cordially yours, 

S. Louisa Harris. 



Salem, Mass., June 21, 1904. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

I thank you for your invitation to the Pow-Wow, as 
you call it. It certainly is very unique and mteresting, and 
will be an occasion long to be remembered. I wish you 
much joy on that day and trust there will be many of a simi- 
lar nature to follow. 

Yours truly, 

W. L. Harris, 



(94) 

Worcester, Mass., June 25, 1904. 
My dear Sir : 

I congratulate you on your length of days, and hope 
that the rest of your life may be honored an'd happy. 

I am faithfully yours, 

Geo. F. Hoar. 
A. F. Lewis, Esq., 

Fryeburg, Maine. 



Malden, June 7th, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

Many thanks, and sincere for your kindly invitation for 
August ninth. The occasion will be a notable one, and I am 
honored in the fact of your remembrance of me. If Mrs. 
Gordon can take me in, it will give me great pleasure to be 
of the number who will extend congratulations to you. 

Most cordially yours, 

Fannie M. Jacobs. 



42 West 12 St., New York, 
July 7th, 1904. 

Dear Mr. Lewis : 

Your circular came in due time telling of your antici- 
pated Birthday party, and the invitation thereto. I did not 
think I could possibly be equal to an original idea that 
would be acceptable on such an occasion, but Miss Stutsman 
thought she might make an attempt, but she was taken very 



(95) 

ill four weeks ago to-day. 

We hope you will have an enjoyable time, and are sorry 
we cannot be present. 

My trip to California was interrupted by the sudden ill- 
ness of Miss S., so now I'll probably postpone it for a 
v.hile. Remember us both to the friends in Fryeburg. 
Hoping you are well and happy, 

Very Sincerely, 

Claka E. Keble. 



Bryant viLLE, Mass., Aug. 9th, 1904. 
Dear Cousin : 

Your Mass. cousins send greetings upon your seventi- 
eth birthday, and although distance has divided us, yet the 
kindred tie of blood is strong, with its resulting bond of 
sympathy. 

It would be a pleasure to accept your kind invitation, ])ut 
it will be im|)ossibie for any of us to do so. 

We wish that many added years of happiness and useful- 
ness may l>e yours. 

The writer of this letter is your cousin Greenleaf 's daugh- 
ter Mary, and he wishes me to say that he would like very 
much to come to his old home once more, but as he will be 
eighty years old the 8th of next month, and feels the in- 
firmities of age increasing, he fears he will never be able to 
do so. 

He is very proud of his native state, as he says it is the 
only state in New England that has not sold out its honor to 
the rum traffic. 

Father is the only one living of the family of five that 



(96) 

came from there to this state al)out sixty years ago. 

Once more we wish you many happy returns of the day 
Your cousin, 

Mary S. Kilbrith, 

Bryantville, Mass. 



Dunstable, Mass., Monday, August 8, 1904. 

Dear Brother, — 

I should be pleased, in response to your cordial invita- 
tion, to be present to-morrow evening at the celebration of 
the 70th anniversary of your biithday, but I find, it incon- 
venient to do so, and, instead, shall have to be content with 
sending you my congratulations and good wishes. My con- 
gratulations are not so much upon the fact that you have 
attained the age of three-score-and-ten years as upon the 
fact that, having reached that age, you are blessed with 
good health and have suffered so little impairment of your 
pristine strength and buoyancy, still retaining, as you do, 
both physically and mentally, the vigor and agility which 
people are wont to regard as associated not with septuagen- 
arians, but with persons many years their junior. The point 
in a person's life at which the period known as old age be- 
gins is not definitely fixed, but I suppose that, if a man 70 
years of age has not entered upon such a period, it cannot 
be disputed that he is on the borderland separating it from 
the period by which it is preceded. Cicero was in his 63d 
year when he wrote his Essay upon Old Age, but that he 
then considered himself old would seem to be negatived b}' 
the fact that he put his essay into the form of a discourse by 
Marcus Porcius Cato when Cato was in his 84th year. 
That essay of Cicero's, by the way, while it is an interesting 



97 



production, — as, indeed, is everything from Cicero's pen,— 
has always seemed to nie as smaclnng somewhat of the na- 
ture of special pleading and as being far from a conclusive 
demonstration of what it attempts to prove, viz., that the 
period of life known as old age is as enjoyable as any pre- 
vious [)eriod. I would not attempt to deny, however, that 
there are many compensations for the losses of old age, and, 
if a person has the proper temperament, and if the environ- 
ing conditions are favorable, I see no reason why, in the 
case of one who is endowed with good health and with a 
sufficiency of this world's goods to serve as a safeguard a- 
gainst res angusia domi, old age should not be a period of 
contentment and enjoyment. By the time when one reaches 
that stage of his earthly pilgrimage, he should be able to 
view things in the light of calm philosophy and to lead a life 
of placid serenity. I felicitate you upon the fact that your 
temperament and the conditions by which you are sur- 
rounded are such that to the possibility of attaining old age 
you can look forward not with dread, not with the fear that, 
as the Psalmist says, your strength would then lie "labor 
and sorrow", but with anticipations that that portion of 
your life would be a [)eriod of contentment and happiness. 

Wishing you a God-speed for the portion of life's journey 
which is before you, and trusting that, if you attain what 
may properly be termed old age, it may be accompanied 
with "honor, love, oliedience, troops of friends", 
I remain, with fraternal cordiality. 

Your affectionate brother, 

CxVLviN W. Lewis. 



(98) 
Sykesville, Md., August 4, 1904. 



Dear Mr. Lewis ; 



Don't you think Spryburo; would be a more expressive 
name than Fryeburg for the energetic old town which has 
produced "the gayest, liveliest and most jocund set of 70- 
year-old boys and girls 3^ou ever saw ?" 

You are to be heartily congratulated — town, frisky boys 
and girls and everybody concerned on your birthplace and, 
more especially, on yourselves. 

It were v/ell worth the pilgrimage to take you each by 
the hand, to look into your faces and to speak to you, by 
word of mouth, my good wishes for many happy years yet 
to come. 

I hope the day of the celebration will be August's very 
fairest with everything favorable, so that its memory may 
be one of life's choicest treasures. 

God keep you all. 

Cordially your friend, 

Annie E. Loo.mis. 
1003 K St., Washington, D. C. 



910 Mass. Ave., N. W., 
Washington, D. C, June 10, '04. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

Many thanks for the cordial invitation to your 
birthday celebration which came to your friends some days 
since. Though it may not be possible for anj^ from 910 to 
be present to give voice to our ])ersonal congratulations, 
you may rest assured that thi^ good wishes and loving re- 
membrances are all here, and distance counts as naught. 
You have indeed sailed smoothly into the seventies and 



..h 



(99) 

the passing years have dealt so kindly with you — or yoii 
with them— that onlookers must lie a little incredulous and 
perhaps you'd better have the Bilile record where he who 
reads may he convinced ! 

You have heard Grandpa say : — 

"Old age should not be reckoned by years, 
But by the way one feels, acts, and ap-pears." 

All join in sincere wishes that many more pleasant years 
will bring around other happy birthdays that you can enjoy 
in good health and prosperity and your friends with you. 
A very happy l>irthday to you, from your friends at UK). 

per A M. Love. 



Franklin, N. H., 
Sept. 9th, 1904. 
My dear old friend : 

Old, not in years, hntfriemhhip I mean — for I 
am .sure you are not 70 years old ! 

What can I say to excuse myself for not answering your 
kind greeting and cordial invitation to help celebrate on 
August 9th. I can only say that I have been the victim 
of a very business like attack of sciatica, all summer — or 
since June 1st, to be more explicit — and made my first trip 
out of town last Saturday— just making a little trip to a 
nearby Beach, for a change of air and to try m}^ strength a 
bit. But I c'owZc? use my hands if not my hip and I ought 
to have written you, and indeed T intended to do so, imme- 
diately on receipt of 3'our card — but while my inten- 
tions and my will were good, my strength was small each 
day when I got able to be up at all— and so the days slipped 
by and here I am just writing now, to thank you for your 



tolC. 



(100) 

remembrance of me and to congratulate you on being so 
young — I don't believe people grow old as they used to in 
our grandfothers' day ; — I am sure I see no such old people 
at 50 to 70 as I used to see when a child — I am suTe you 
don't look like good old Mr. Charles as 1 remember him — 
and yet be must have been as young as 70 when we all 
boarded with him and "Miss Frank" — (and he and you and 
C. D. used to have such exciting games of Croquet I !) I 
got so much Croquet then that I have never cared to play 
since ! — I remember how the old gentleman would insist on 
going out before breakfast — while the grass wan soakivc/ vet 
with dew, and hammering away at those balls. Well I suj)- 
pose he has been at rest under the dewy grass these many 
years, and I wonder what about Miss Frank? — I used to 
hear Fryeburg news once in a while when Mr. Walter Rob- 
inson was here — but now I rarely hear. It seems a bit strange 
that I have never revisited the place in all these years, but we 
never seem to go that way. I did get as far as Conway once, 
years ago — Mr. Leach was going there on some business or 
other — and we planned to go on over to F. after he had fin- 
ished it — but before he was ready there came on a cold storm, 
(it was in the fall), and so we came back home and have 
never got as near since. I have a son wdio goes there oc- 
casionally on business however — and he has often promised 
me to call on you — but he is always in such a hurrj' that he 
carries the promise ovei' from one time to another. He is in- 
terested in the Weir Stove Co., (manufacturers of the "Glen- 
wood" stoves and heaters) ;— yes — he is interested in more 
ways than one, since he married the only daughter of the 
senior partner. They have two dear little boys — one, three 
years old next month and the other, a bit over one year old — 
so you see Eugene and I have attained the venerable prefix 
of Grand— this is the younger of my two sons— Rob- 
ert, the older is called Eugene — after his uncle Eugene — 
and is following in the business footsteps of his father — 



(101) 

having studied law in Harvard and Boston Law schools — 
after gradaation from Dartmouth College. Robert was in 
Dartmouth College for two years hut {neferred a ])usiness 
life to a ))rofessional one, so did not put in the last two 
years. The older son is here at home with us at present — 
not I)eing tempted to a home l)y himself as yet. Now as to 
my brother P^ugene — he is chief draughtsman in the ofHce 
of the Chicago and Xorth Western R. R. and lives in Chi- 
cago. Has l)een there a great many years. He does not 
come East very often ; the climate does not agree with him 
very well — and he is a man who would much rather be 
rightathis desk at workthanto visitor "loaf". My mother, 
who makes her home with me — as does my sister also — 
spends about every other winter out there with him. My 
sister lived in Chicago and made a home for him five 
years or so — l)ut was not so well contented West as East. 
Mr. Leach and 1 go West oftener than Eugene comes East — 
so we see each other occasionally — but I often repine at 
his being so far away from us all. 

Do you know, I picked up an old Concord Monitor one 
day this spring, or early summer, and found that you were 
formerly a resident of Concord and had been back there at 
the time this paper was printed — (it seems to me, in Feb- 
ruary some time), to attend some reunion or celebrate some 
event. Then I saw mention in the same paper last month, 
of the celebration to which you were kind enough to invite 
me. I wonder why I never knew before that you were a 
"Concord Boy" — and I wonder still more why you came to 
Concord last winter and didn't come uj) and call on me, or 
let me know you were so near ! I don't think that was 
good of you I — Don't you know how near Franklin and 
Concord are? — and my husband is a Concord lawyer — has 
had an office there for 25 years. Now don't come there a- 
gain without coming to see me will you ? May I ask whom 
you visit there ? It might be some friend of my own you 



(102) 

know — anyway I hope you will come again i^oon and come 
to Frunlvlin too, this time. 

I wonder if you are f?till interested in business in Frye- 
burg — and what ever became of that Mr. Shirle}^ who board- 
ed at the Charles' when I was there. Do you ever see any 
of the Barrows'? — C. D's family I mean. My boys fitted for 
Coll. at Andover, Mass., and once when I was down that 
way I went over to Lowell and called on Mrs. Barrows — 
found her just as'prett// and i^iceet as ever — scarcely changed 
at all. Time and sorrow have dealt lightly with her, so far 
as looks are Qoncerned surely — though I guess she has 
had her share of both — I thought I should see more of her 
but I have not. Her second son was graduated from Dart- 
mouth before my boys went there ; her youngest son enter- 
ed during Eugene's senior year, but I never bii^jpened to 
see him. I don't know whether she still makes her home 
in Lowell or not — but presume she does. 1 judge the old 
Academy is in a flourishing condition — I receive circulars 
and papers with sketches of its Mork and life, once in a 
while. They have absorbed the old Ward place, have they 
not, for a boarding house or dormitory or something of 
that sort?— and by the way, can you tell me anything of 
May Ward and Jennie Sewall, the Southers, Alice Hast- 
ings, or any of those old friends? I su[)pose some of them 
may be living a "stones throw" of me, if I only knew it. I 
don't suppose the old place would look very natural to me 
if I should go there. I suppose I might be able to tell 
where the old Main street and the one leading up by the 
Charles homestead were— but I should hate to see the old 
houses changed ! The Dana house, the old McMillan place, 
the Barrows homestead, the Charles house, in behind that 
beautiful old tree — sometimes I think I don't want to go 
back to the old places and see the changes. Oh ! one more 
to ask for — Seth Fife — I believe he studied law and located 
there, didn't he? And it seems to me I heard something of 



103 



him through some old resident or visitor. I suppose there 
are many more that I would like to enquire about and hear 
tVoui, if I could only recall them all. I think I remember a 
girl hv the na.me of Tibbetts too — was it Fannie? And 
some Farrington giris and a brother. I met those girls years 
and years ago, on the street in Boston — and strange to sa}' 
we all recognized each other, at once. It seems as though 
I should know them if I saw them now — but I don't know— I 
[)resunie we have all changed since then. I wonder if you 
look as you did — let me see — 37— 88 years is it ? T am sure 
you w(nildn't know me ! And yet my old acquaintances 
do all seem to recognize me in spite of my added years, 
and size— I am not quite as slim a girl now as I was 38 
years ago ! And I have a few gray hairs — though not 
very many. Oh ! you nuist come over to Concord again 
and come to see me. 

I fear you will wish I had entirely skipped answering 
your card if I don't stop pretty soon!! — but some wa}', 
the longer I write the more I find to say. I don't want 
to tire you all out though, so I will be merciful and 
draw to a close. If you see any of my old time friends 
I wish you would just mention my name to them that 
they may know that I still hold in dear remembrance 
Fryeburg, and the friends 1 once knew there and . for 
yourself my dear friend, please accept the congratulations 
and best wishes and kindest regards of one wdio it seems 
still lives in your memory and who veil remembers what 
a Ivind friend you always were to the poor, shy, and some- 
times lonely and homesick little girl who felt so out of 
place among all the "grown-ups" at the Charles'. 

May your birthdays be many and very happy ones. 
Yours most sincerely, 
Agnes A. (Robinson) Leach. 



(104) 

Portland, June 4, 1904. 



Dear Lewis 



Your letter is charmino;— *like yourself. It is so felici- 
tously conceived and so happily worded that I doubt any 
one but you could do it. You know my affection for you, 
I didn't think you were three-score-and-ten. To me you 
will always seem perennially young. There is a buoyancy 
about you. 

How long we have been acquainted I, to use a Southern 
allocution, "disremember" ; but this I do know% from the 
very beginning I took a strong liking to you. I hope to be 
in Fryeburg, in body, on Aug. 9th. At any rate I shall 
be there in spirit. 

Your friend and admirer, 

Phillip Willis McIntyre. 



Portland, Auir. 8th, 1904. 



Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

Dear friend 



I sincerely regret that I shall be unable to be present 
at the celebration of Aug. 9th ; but my thoughts will be 
with you all, knowing what a pleasant occasion it must be 
with such a wideawake set of Boys and Girls at the head. 
Trusting your future will be as bright and prosperous as 
the past has been, 

Sincerely yours, 
Hattie Shirley McIntire. 



(105) 

MiNNEAruLis, July, 1904. 
^Iv dear Mr. Lewis ; 

I am 1)ut too bapp3^ to congratulate you ou tin- 
arrival of your seventieth l)irthday. You have always been 
such a true friend to me and my family, and in the darkest 
hours of my life you were with us bestowing on us kind at- 
tentions and sympathy and friendship. 

The very mention of your name always brings up thoughts 
of pleasure, respect and gratitude. When I left dear old 
Fryeburg I often w ished you could come here and be near 
us for I think you could have found a broader field for your 
literary tastes. 

May our Heavenly Father continue his rich blessings on 
you is the sincere wish of your old friend, 

Mrs. Caroline E. McMillan. 



To Mr. A. F. Lewis, acknowledging his invitation for 

Aug. 9, '04. 

Youth is a precious ti'easure which we appreciate fully 
only when it is ours no longer;— and when its glamour de- 
parts, life is never again the same. But there is something- 
better than youth— it is the ripeness of a well-rounded life, 
calmly looking toward the sunset whose radiance is finer 
far than the glaring heat of the earlier day — with glad as- 
surance of the daw^ning of a brighter dav when the darkness 
shall have shut in this world ; — the life of one who has kept 
open the door of youth and has all its joys written on mem- 
ory's tablets, and 

"reads the hereafter by the here, 
A beautiful 7iow, a better to-be.'" 



(106) 

Such a life, dear friend, is 3'our?, and all who know you 
must feel grateful to one who illustrates so well the virtue of 
growing old gracefully. But why say "old"? jNIaud Howe 
Eliot tells of inviting Dr. Holmes to a celebration of the day 
when her illustrious mother was "seventy years young.-' 
And trulyj age is not a matter of years, for a sound mind 
in a sound body, with a young heart, may defy time. 

Walter Savage Landor makes Aspasia say to Pericles, 
"Why congratulate one on his birthday ? Is the loss of a 
precious jewel a matter of felicitation?" I like to think, 
rather, that each year back is but a pearl added to the chap- 
let still in our possession, for the fruit of the years, and 
their tender and joyful memories are ours forever. 

So I congratulate you most cordially on your three-score- 
years-and-ten, and wish you many more, filled with health 
and happiness. 

My best wishes, also, to the friends who celebrate with 
you their seventieth anniversary. One wishes for the mag- 
ic carpet to annihilate the leagues which separate us from 
dear old Fryeburg, so that we might join in "the feast .of 
reason and the flow of soul" of your eventful meeting. 

Edith McMillan. 



August 17, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

Your postal got mislaid and found again too late 
to write in time for the meeting. I could not have come, 
but it would have been a great pleasure to meet old friends 
again. May the care of years rest lightly and the declining 
years, when they come, pass smoothly is the wish of us 
both. 

Yours Truly, 

W. E. Mason. 



(107) 

Letter from Lucia (Griswold) jNIerrill, in her 92d year, 
8K)rn near Pine Hill, in the Asa Charles house. 

Andovek, Mass., Aug 26th, 1904. 

Dear Fiiend Mr, Lewis : 

I hoped to be able to write you for your birth- 
day, but mine coming on the 10th of Aug. there was much 
to take up my time and mind. I shall be glad to receive 
the j)ublished account and enclose the ])rice, 50 cts. 

One thing I would like to know, where did Pine Hill get 
her new crop of trees? Did they come from seeds planted 
one hundred years ago ? Ninety years ago .there w ere no 
trees there, only fine views, scrul) oaks, Mayflowers, etc. 

I would have been pleased to attend your young folks 
party — such you are in comparison with me — but my visit- 
ing days are over, and I must depend upon others for ac- 
counts of all functions. 

My earliest recollections of Fr3'eburg are of it as a busi- 
ness centre. Fryeburg Corner was the Inisiness centre for 
all the country around, and Saturday afternoon the village 
was so thronged we young children did not venture through 
the crowd unless there was urgent need. 

With regard to the Lovewell's Fight Celebration I re- 
member little. If there was a procession I was not in it ; — 
children were not put at the front as in these days. The 
event I distinctly recall is, that we had for guests at my 
home my cousin Wm. Pitt Fessenden and Henry W. Long- 
fellow. I remember they talked of the address and the 
poem, [the former was by Chas. S. Daveis and the latter 
by Gov. Enoch Lincoln], but I cannot recall what they 
said. Is it in the address that the story is told that in a 
pause in the fight Paugus and Chamberlain met in single 
combat when Paugus said : 

"Now sure me kill you, Chamberlain, 
And scalp you, when you're dead"! 



(108) 

"I'll see", brave Chamberlain replied, 
And quick the deed was done; 
The Indian 'twas who fell and died, 
Pigwackett's Chief is gone! 

I think there must hav^e been some Andover men in the 
tight, for we have a legend, 

"Of that young student, Mr. Frye, 
Who in his blooming youth did die, 
Fighting for his dear country's good, 
He lost his life and precious blood". 

Do the wild roses still grow on the battle field? 

Respectfully, 

L. W. G. Merrill.* 



Amesbury, July 18, 1904. 
Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

Fryeburg, 
My dear friend : 

You are nearer to me than I thought in age, but you 
will never "catch up", for I am six years ahead. 

I always look back with pleasure to the summer vacations 
at Fryeburg, which you and Mr. Barrows did so much to 
make interesting:. Frveburg owes vou a great deal for col- 
lecting and preserving its traditions, and the debt will grow 
with the years, and be more and more appreciated after 
you have passed away. 

In the meantime may you have many happy years added 
to your seventy, and do not forget to come and see me in 
the home to which 1 have come to spend the rest of my 
life. Pilgrims by the score are coming every week, most 

*Mrs. Merrill's husband was Preceptor In the Academy 70 years ago. 



(109) 

of whom I never saw or heard of, ])ut I have a special wel- 
come for my old Maine friends. I cannot come to Frye- 
l)urg, because it is Old Home Week here in early August ; 
l)at I shall remember you, and if Judge Knight, or Miss 
C'oolbrith, or the Thomases, or Hutchinson, are with you, 
1 would wish to be remembered to them. Also to any 
Fr^eliurg citizen who recalls me. 

Your old friend, 

8. T. PiCKAKD. 



North Conway, N. H., Aug. 9th, 1904. 
Friend Lewis : 

I am very sorry indeed not to be able to be present 
with you this evening, to assist in celebrating your 70th 
birthday. I thank you very much for your kind invitation, 
and trust you will have many frie^ids with you upon this 
occasion. 

It is my wish that you may live many years and enjoy 
life. 

With best wishes for your success, believe me, 

Sincerely yours, 

Lycurgus Pitman. 



Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 9th, 1904. 

Dear Mr. Lewis : 

It is 9 o' the clock, on this evening of your birthday, 
and I can imagine "the feast of reason and the flow of soul" 



(110) 

which marks the gathering of your guests who celebrate the 
day that makes you "seventy years young.'' Oliver Wen- 
dell Holmes knew how to pai'ai)hrase most happily, did he 
not? 

I thank you heartily for your invitation to lie of your 
number. Wouldn't I like to go ! But even were there no 
other preventive to n)y acceptance of your sunsmons, the 
fact that I have not taken a step, even with the aid of 
crutches, for nearly two years, would, (as somebody has 
it) "militate" somewhat seriously, against even a Khovier 
journey than a "progress" from Milwaukee to blessed old 
Fryeburg. However, the wings of my imagination are not 
one bit rheumatic, so, though I send you my sincere "re- 
grets" that in bodilij pref^ence, I cannot wish you all joy of 
your birthday, I can send them via pen and ink, and I do 
rejoice with you in the health and happiness and cheer 
which the years have not stolen from you in their flight. I 
am glad that they have treated you so kindly. 

Give my devoirs to the "strength of the hills". Perhaps 
you do not know that I love the very "stones of the street" 
in blessed old Fryeburg. It is full of association with my 
father and mother — with my childhood — with the growth 
of my love for everything beautiful in Nature. 

I have been spending many months of the last 3'ear in the 
shadowy company of my "Forbears", and they never seem- 
ed half so real to me, as since I have tried to tell their 
"story" to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of my 
parents. I wonder if you will be a bit interested in this 
"story", since it has so nmch to do with Fryeburg, which 
you love also. Should you care to read of these Ancestors 
of mine, cousin Abbie Page will lend you her copy of the 
book, I am sure. I have given away all the bound copies 
of the issue, so have none to otter you. From that record, 
you will be sure that I count any man happy who has grown 
up in the company of those glorious mountains. 



(Ill) 

Saturday next I expect to lunch with a friend, and Mrs, 
Hastings and Miss Alice are to be guests as well. I am 
sorry that they will probably depart for Fryeburg before my 
sister Annie, (Mrs. Butler), and her husband reach Mil- 
waukee. I am expecting them the last of the month, and 
can hardly wait for the sight of the dear woman. 

The years are flying, and will soon fade into ther eterni- 
ties, but the same eternal verities upon which we have rest- 
ed through the sorrowful and happy experiences of our 
lives, still abide, and will never fail us. I have abundant 
reason to "count up my mercies", which are many and 
great. Chief among them, I count my children and grand- 
children — the former, so devoted and loyal that they make 
me half forget my physical disabilities— the latter, who 
liring so much sunshine into my life, I w^ould be glad to 
have you know them all. And if you can "come my way", 
you will be sure to drop in and exchange greetings, will 
you not ? 

Again accept my many thanks for the souvenir of Frye- 
burg Academy. Congratulations, concerning your birth- 
day, and believe me. 

Sincerely yours, 

Rebecca Peeley Reed. 



Castine, Me., July 20th, 1904. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

Mrs. Richardson and I send congratulations and resfrets 
that we can not attend your meeting of Aug. 9th. 

It must be a pleasant thought to realize that one has 
spent 70 years in dear old Fryeburg. 

Very truly yours, 

Albert F. Richardson. 



(112) 

Melrose, Aug. 2, '04. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

Please accept our hearty congratulations on your sate 
arrival at the seventieth milestone of your earthly pilgrim- 
age. 

We congratulate you also on your good fortune in quiet- 
ly and pleasantly crossing the line of three-score-years-and- 
ten into the interesting period of o-l-d, o-l-d — i/es,o\d age. 
You are surely there friend Lewis, whether you are con- 
scious of it or not, and by no possible device can you ever 
become a young man again. And even if you would, you 
would probably find no better company than that in which 
you now are. 

That the future of your life may be delightfully serene 
and replete with usefulness and enjoyment is the sincere de- 
sire of your friends. 

G. H. RiCKER, 

Harriet N. Ricker, 
Hattie G. Ricker. 



Lynn, Mass., Aug. 8th, 1904. 
My dear friend Lew^is : 

Having just arrived home after an absence of four 
weeks and more, I find that I shall be unable to attend your 
anniversary festival on acc't of accumulated business which 
requires my attention at home for a wdiile. I found your 
invitation on my arrival and 1 was a little surprised to learn 
of the early date, it having run in my mind that it was to 
come off later in the month. I regret very much my ina- 
bility to attend, as I am sure 1 should have enjoyed it 
immensely ;— of course jou will favor me with a full ac- 
count of the affair, as it will be very interesting to me and 



(113) 

I can enjoy it all by myself. We are all well which I feel 
is a great blessing when 1 take into consideration the fear- 
fully hot weather we are called upon to endure. I hope 
your natal festival will prove a great success and that it 
will reach your highest and brightest anticipations and ex- 
pectations. Kindest regards to you and all other friends in 
F. fi'cnii Mrs. Rogers and myself — and lielieve me, as ever 
your friend, 

H. W. Rogers. 



Arlington, Mass., June 6, 1904. 
My Dear Mr. Lewis : 

Though my work is pressing, I will take the 
time to offer my heartiest congratulations to an old friend 
who is to veJehrate this summer. AVith my family, I shall 
expect to l)e present, and enjoy the occasion. I have not 
yet decided to bring along an effusion, but the occasion is 
one to spur the Muse, if anything can. 

Very truly, 

W. A. Robinson* 



Concord, Mass., July 9, 1904. 

Dear Mr. Lewis : 

Miss Thomas had spoken to me of you, and almost 
made me promise to visit you and your town on the 9th 
proximo, a month hence. I hope I may do so, and am ar- 
rano-ino: affairs to that end. 



(lU) 

I am obliged to you for your interesting address on my 
(very distant) cousin Webster, of whom I do not take the 
same view that you do, as you may infer from what I en- 
close. But he was a great man all the same, and I have 
dwelt upon his greatness in my History of New Hampshire. 

I send you in return one of my pamphlets on President 
Langdon, whose son Paul, was a citizen of Fryeburg ; a- 
bout whom and his descendants I hope to learn more if I 
come to your town, I have another pamphlet about him in 
press at Concord, N. H. which contains his will and several 
other matters pertaining exclusively to New Hampshire, 
which I hope to bring with me to Fryeburg ; and 1 think 
I cannot do better than to speak at your Birthday Festival 
on Paul Langdon, and his father, Pres. Langdon. 

Prof. E. D. Sanborn, who married Webster's niece, was 
a nearer cousin of mine, — about fifth, I think. His daugh- 
ter, Miss Kate is my intimate friend, and 1 am going over 
on the 11th to help celebrate her birthday at her farm of 
Breezy Meadows, in the town of Metcalf about 20 miles 
south of Concord. 

Yours very truly, 

F. B. Sanborn. 
Alonzo F. Lewis, Esq., Fryeburg, Me. 



Dear Mr. Lewis : 

Though I have written you a letter before to-day, I 
find I did not answer all your questions. I was born in 
Hampton Falls, a small town between Hampton and Exe- 
ter, and shall be 73 if I live till December 15th, 1904. I 
was brought up a New Hampshire democrat, but revolted 
in 1845, at the age of 13, with John P. Hale. 

I do not live on our North Bridge, as you might infer 



from ray heading ; but I thought you might like to see this 
view, with French's Minute-man at the farther end. 

We have been celel>rating Hawthorne here very success- 
fully, and I encK:>se a slip from my address which Miss 
Thomas uiay like to see after you have read it. I knew H. 
after 1860, and Longfellow after 1852. My son Victor, in 
his Sanliorii Geneak)gy, which ought to be in your Academy 
Library, gives the whole line of American Sanl)orns. 

Yours truly, 

F. B. Sanborn. 



St. Johnsbuky, Vermont, Aug. 8th, 1904. 

Mr. Lewis, 

Dear Sir : 

I being one of the party which wandered in the 
vicinity of the Potomac one May afternoon, send to you my 
congratulations. 

When 1 left Washington on July 15, it was our desire to 
have myself a delegate from that city, but circumstances 
forbid me that pleasure. 

You will visit Washington next winter, possibly, and 
there tell us all about the good time of August ninth. 

Wishing you a ha])py day and hoping for a sunshiny one, 
I am, 

Sincerely yours, 

Lenora F. Sanborn. 
Washington Address, 
1204 Mass. Ave., N. W. 



(116) 

Bethel, Maine, July 27th, 1904. 
Dear Mr. Lewis : 

Your interesting note was remailed to us here 
where we spend our summers. Mother passed away some 
years ago, so that both Fatlier and Mother are on the other 
side. Arthur is living in Stratford, Conn., and Nellie, (Mrs. 
Russell), her only child, a daughter, Shirley Russell, Mary 
and 1 are here. We unite most heartily in congratulations 
that you meet the "three-score-years-and-ten" in such a 
happy frame of mind, and I can send no better message 
than a part of Lucy Larcom's "Growing Old". She spent 
nine successive summers with us here. 

Very cordially yours, 
Isabel Shirley. 

Gtowing Old. 

Old, — we are growing old — 
Going on through a beautiful road, 
Finding earth a more blessed abode. 
Nobler work by our hands to be wrought, 
Freer paths for our hope and our thought — 
Because of the beauty the years unfold. 

We are cheerfully growing old! 
Old, — we are growing old — 
(^oing in to the gardens of rest 
That glow through the gold of the West, 
Where the rose and the amaranth blend, 
And each path is the way to a friend — 
Because of the peace that the years unfold. 

We are thankfully growing old! 
Old, — are we growing old? 
Life blooms as we travel on 
Up the hills, into fresh, lovelj' dawn; 
We are children, who do but begin 
The sweetness of living to win — 
Because heaven is in us, to bud and unfold. 

We are younger, for growing old! 

Lucy Larcom. 



(117) 

North Anson, July 28th, 1904. 
Dear Mi-. Lewis : 

We are sorry not to be able to attend the festivities on 
August 9th, l)ut we want to express our gladness that you 
are a young man in spite of the almanac. 

It may be some reward and satisfaction for 3^ou to know 
that we have held you in grateful love for your kindly and 
sympathetic spirit toward us the year we were in the Acad- 
emy. 

May God bless you, and make you cheerful in His love. 

Cordially, 

Augustine Simmons, 
Alice P. Simmons. 



Brooklyn, N. Y., Aug. 1st, 1904. 
Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

My dear Sir : 

For many years your name has been so very 
familiar that I have regarded you as an old friend although 
we have met but once and but for a half hour or so ; — and 
had I received notice in time I should certainly have given 
myself the pleasure of attending your unique party. 

When residing in Chicago I once presided over a meet- 
ing of some sort whereat every seat was taken and several 
men stood against the wall among whom was one of great 
age,— upon seeing whom, I advanced to the edge of the 
platform nearest to the old gentleman and pointing at him 
I loudly invited him to come up and have a chair. The old 
man was stunned and dazed, and turning to his nephew who 
had come with and was attending to him, he exclaimed,— 
"He means you, William, he says 'the old gentleman', and 



(118) 

that must mean you, for taint me". So, when I was invited 
to your party as one of your old gentleman friends I was so 
stunned and dazed that I looked about for some "William" 
for whom the invitation was intended, for I knew that 
"taint me". I am hut a stripling- of 72. I was l>orn in '32 
and you in '34 hence you are tico years my senior, and two 
years makes a heap of difference while we are in our teens. 

Yours seems to be in some sort a "Freedom Party". In 
Cornish where I was l)orn about 100 3'ears ago — no, no, 
hang it ! — About 100 years ago, in Cornish where 1 was 
born, each young man gave a "Freedom Party" upon his 
21st birthday whereat many toasts were drank and the 
young men jn-esent were called upon to respond thereto. 
Upon one famous occasion "Sammy" w^as called upon to 
respond to a high-sounding toast. Sammy was not great. 
Sammy had somehow dropped into a tixed habit of using 
long, high-sounding words the meaning of which he was 
wholly ignorant of, but as his hearers usually knew no more 
than himself, he pulled along fairly well with the excejition 
of an occasional break. When Sammy Mas called upon for 
a response to the high-sounding toast aforementioned, his 
wits departed from him. Bracing himself with feet wide 
apart and arms akimbo, Sammy responded — "Here is a- 
wishing that you will have 15 children and they will ail ab- 
scond and be obliterated". I trust that no confused person 
will repeat that response to any toast at your "Freedom 
Part}'" on the ninth instant. 

Fryeburg ! A grand name for the home of excellent 
])eople. I congratulate you, IMr. Lewis, in that Fryeburg 
has been your home. Environment has much to do with 
the making of us. The boy who grows up to manhood in 
Fryeburg should be and will be better than he would have 
been had his environments been less favorable. The Irish 
people among us like to live in cities, and are unwilling to 
acknowledge a country birth. One day when a little knot 



(119) 

of them here in New York were comparing birthplaces, and 
all but one had claimed a city birth. Mike was silent. 
Presently one of the number exclaimed — "Where was ye 
born, Mike?" Being cornered, Mike got out his])ij)e and 
some matches, saying, "hould on a minute !" Then hi 
struck a match and it went out. "I was born — hould on 
a minute" ! And he struck another match, all the time 
trying to think of some way to avoid acknowledging that 
he was countr}'' born. "I was born" — "hould on till 1 light 
me pipe". "I was born about five miles out of Cork, but I 
could have been born in Cork if I had wanted to be." If 
some of us boys who were born elsewhere, could have been 
born in Fryeburg, I feel confident that we should be proud 
of our birthplace. 

Here is to you, John Anderson my jo John. May you 
and I and all of us long live to be as we now are— good 
boys. 

Lauriston Ward Small. 



• Alfred, Maine, August 8, 1904. 
Dear Brother Lewis : 

Your bright, and unique invitation reached us in good 
time, but under the hope that a response in person on your 
birthday might be our privilege and pleasure, we did not 
make answer by pen and ink. We have gladly planned for 
our visit to you and dear old Fryeburg — both to our sincere 
and deep regret we find now that it is impossible for us 
— or either of us to come. So I am writing to assure you 
of our heart-felt congratulations on your happy arrival at 
the Scriptural Climacteric of three-score-and-ten, while we 
express the hope that many more rich years may still be ac- 



(120) 

corded 3'ou. And may 1 not ask you, and the other dear 
septuagenarians with you (may my heartiest greeting ])e 
mentioned to them, and may Idessings attend them) if some 
of the best of life doesn't come in these later years. Is 
there not something reasonable in expecting rai-est and rich- 
est fruit on the ripe tree ? Maturitij does not come in the 
early years. May we not disregard with good natured in- 
diti'erence the assumption of the "young trash" (under 70) 
that all there is worth living for is with them ? We certain- 
ly ougJtt to knoio more, and, if we are right-hearted, to en- 
joy more in these ripe years of our life. I am sure the 
flowers never bloomed so brightly to me as to-day — and 
their heaven-sent perfumes never visited me so sweetly, and 
their celestial messages never, earlier, came to me fraught 
with lessons so delightful, and with such wealth of instruc- 
tion. 

And do you remember when under our window at the 
Oxford House you and Miss Barrows and other good friends 
sang very charmingly, (to })alliate and soften my marital 
misfortune, I suppose), but — our hearts thanked you then, 
and gratefully treasure the remembrance. The question, 
however which I designed to start was this : Is music any 
less sweet and meaningful to you ?<o«' than then — and does 
a good book find with you a less glad greeting — and does 
real sterling friendship weigh any less with you — and does 
God give a larger gift than a true friend, generous, loyal, 
lasting. 

How I would like to open up our memories of Fryeburg ; 
they are in one of the richest of our memory treasure chests. 
But I should want a ream of paper to begin on — and my 
wife, woman like — would dou])tless, want ten sheets to my 
one. Our friends did treat us most handsomely there and 
yourself among the very best. In school, church, society — 
in all relations we were indeed royally treated — and we re- 
new our thankful appreciation to-day. 



(121) 

No other pkfce in my varied experience stands out before 
nie in all its si)ecific localities, so clearly as does Fiyeburg 
to-day, and a similar definiteness and individuality mark my 
memory of persons and groups. 

-Mrs. Snow and myself, as we look back over this almost 
half century wish to thank you again and all of you (and 
the loved friends gone before) for all Fryeburg teas and all 
it has continued to be to us, with all it is now. Say our 
best word of greeting and gratitude to all gathered to-day. 
I cannot fail to say strongly how highly I estimate your 
own life of integrity and sincere eflbrt — in all good circles, 
literarv, social, religious, I am glad to bear witness to your 
faithfulness and your success. 

And now having given my greeting — perhaps too largely 
— be pleased, my dear brother, to accept for yourself and all 
your associates, my sincere and heartiest God-speed for the 
future. 

I am and shall remain. 

Yours faithfully, 

B. P. Snow. 
Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

Fryeburg, Me. 



KicHMOND, Va., Aug. 7, 1904. 

My dear Friend : 

I regret that I was not at home when your card 
was rec'd announcing the successful passage of the "three- 
score-and-ten", or I would have written at once con^ratula- 
tions, and the earnest hope that the psalmist's prophecy of 
"labor and sorrow" for continued years may not be true in 
your case, nor in the case of those other friends of like 



(122) 

years who are to meet with you. 

I am writing this in the wee hours, having just arrived 
after a successful Missionary trip of four weeks thro' N. C, 
Tenn. and Va. If I had the time should enjoy giving you 
son)e account of the trip, Initin the hopes that I may get 
this mailed time enough for the 1 A. M. (Sunday) cari-ier, 
feeling that possibly it may reach you by Tuesday evening. 
I will only add that 1 dee})ly regret that I am unable to be 
present. I shall think of you and the Fryebuig friends, and 
while you are enjoying the "feast of reason and flow of 
soul" I will celebrate the occasion by enjoying a big Vir- 
ginia watermelon, which are in great plenty this year. 

With the best wishes and the earnest hope that many 
years of happy usefulness may be the lot of yourself and 
your septuagenarian friends, 

I am most cordially, 

Your friend, 

Junius B. Spiers. 



17 San Ignacio St., 

Havana, Cuba, July 8th, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

How kind of you to remember us with the papers and 
invitation to the birthday party;— and I presume Mr. 
Stanhope has already acknowledged them as he has more 
time than I. He still keeps his Office on Baratillo St., but 
we live at the above No., which you may remember is the 2d 
street from and back of the Palace. 1 was much interested 
in the Thomas paper, and what fine pictures of both Miss 
Charlotte and her brother ; — I should haye known them 
without their names. I'd like to hear her laugh once more. 
I have sent them Havana papers occasionaly and you will 



(123) 

jilease remember me to them at the reunion. I may have 
some news to tell you in the marriage of my nephew Dr. 
Haynes who married a Cambridge girl whose father is a 
noted author there. We all like her very much. My sis- 
ter now lives in Dorchester, and her only daughter has her 
studio in Boston. Her son keeps house, and they are still 
a united family. We visited Boston last fall, Avhich you 
may know. Mr. Stanhope had to go to New York on bus- 
iness, and so 1 went too. We were gone six weeks from 
Havana ; and I nearly froze to death in October in New 
York, where we visited Mr. Stanhope's family and we were 
glad to be back where it was warmer. Flulfy as ever is my 
inseparable companion — and is a very handsome dog and 
much respected here by all the three families in the house 
who are Americans — one from Philadelphia, one from Iowa, 
and ourselves. 1 am very njuch more contented here than 
in Baratillo St. Mr Guinn is still here ; has never return- 
ed to Atlanta since he came here, but his wife has been here 
r)ut one winter. I presume Washington has still attractions 
for you— and I am willing to agree with you in that— and 
you will spend the coming winter* there. Havana expects 
to be flooded with tourists this winter and I do not Avonder 
that people want to get away from the severe cold. Will 
you remember me to any who may inquire for or remember 
me in your town. We hope to hear from you soon afte.r 
your birthday party. With kindest regards, 

E. J. Stanhope. 



(124) 

Spokane, Wash., June 8th, 1904, 
A. F. Lewis, Esq., 

Frveburg', Maine, 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

We are exceedingly interested in your very interestinj; 
and graceful circular letter on your approaching pow-wow. 
It would give us great pleasure to be with you. As you 
indicate, it seems impossible that you have reached so many 
years. We can only hope that we may be so well pre- 
served at that age, if we are spared at all. Mrs. Strahorn 
joins me in wishing you the time of your lives on Auii', 9th. 

Sincerely yours, 

EoBT. E. Strahorn. 



East Brownfield, Me,, July 28, 1904. 
Mr. Lewis, 
Dear Sir : 

Please accept thanks for your kind invitation to 
attend the unique celebration you propose for Aug 9th. 
It is truly refreshing to tind so many young enough in spirit 
to be merry and make merry. T am quite interested for I 
too am Hearing that once so much dreaded mark ; but as I 
approach it the ill omens are disappearing. I am alone in 
the old home ; every bird has raised the wing and tiown, 
and it may be impossible to be present as much as I would 
like the pleasure. I could not for a moment think of add- 
ing anything to the experiences with all the talent you will 
command. Accept best wishes for an enjoyable evening. 

Very truly, 

E. A. G. Sticivney. 



(125) 

Pittsfip:ld, Mass., Aug. 5th, 1904-. 

De:ir Mr. Lewis : 

To be so kindly remembered by you ns to receive a 
personal invitation to be present on the occasion of your 
seventieth birthday, gave us indeed great pleasure. 

Could we make duties subservient to wishes we should 
certainly not deprive ourselves of the great pleasure and 
lasting enjoyment. I think there is nothing that rejuve- 
nates like the meeting of those we knew and associated with 
when our years were few and life joyous. There is some- 
thing so dear to us in the associations — and even in the 
name of dear old Fryel)urg that we can never speak of it 
without wishmg that we could look once more, on the beauty 
of its hills and valleys. 

In our Berkshire Hills we have a scenery unsurpassed for 
l^eaut}^ kind friends a plenty, but there are no friends like 
the old friends.- And to all of ours who may gather with, 
you we send a kindly greeting. Wishing that He who has 
so kindly led you past so many mile stones — may still gently 
lead you past many more, and that when this life is ended 
it may be but the beginning of a better one in the world be- 
yond. 

Very sincerely yours, 

Me. and Mks. J. E. Osgood. 



"Camp Refuge", 
east side 
Lake Cobbosseecontee, 

Manchester, June 6th, 1904. 
Dear Lewis : 

I am here by the lovely shores of sweet and restful 
Cobbosseecontee, and cannot be with you on the occasion 



(126) 

referred to. I am a hoy of '35, you getting one year ahead 
— the good Lord deeming it unwise to send two fellows like 
us into the world the same year. Like you, 1 am almost 
unconscious of the fjict that I have j^assed the dead line of 
old age. I keep young l)ecause I keep in touch with the 
people ; my six grand-children help me out in this niatter of 
maintaining perpetual youth. 

May you all have a grand good time at your anniversary, 
and may the years that stretch before you be crowned with 
blessings. 

With the kindest of wishes, 

Yours, 

Howard Owejst. 



Danvers, June 12, 1904. 
My dear Mr. Lewis : 

If my plans are carried out I shall be very happy to ac- 
cept your invitation for August ninth. May old age, if it 
ever comes to 3"ou, seem but a fleeting episode between 
your temporary and your eternal youth. 

Yours sincerely, 

Anne L. Page. 



Havana, Feb. 4, 1904. 
Mr. A. F. Lewis, 

Dear Friend : 

I received your letter of Jan. 22d and note you 
are again in Washington, and that you have escaped the se- 



12' 



vere cold weather })i'evailing at Fryel)Ui'g. Since Nov. l.-jt 
tills has heen the coldest winter we have evei' experienced 
since 1840. Even within the [)ast two oi- three days three 
woolen blankets have heen very comfortable and Tuesday 
morning the mercury went down to (il above zero. Of 
course that is as nothing compared with 40 below. How 
anything of the animal family ever survives is something 
more than a Cuban can understand. Surely 61 in Ha^'ana is 
cold enough for most people. 

We are glad to hear from you and hope by next winter 
that you will try Cu1)a ag:)in, as we think you will find 
many agreeable changes in Havana, as it is now as clean and 
healthy as the most favored. 

We know that "Washington cannot compete with Cuba 
for a gtjod climate. In 18(53 J. R. S. was in front of Fred- 
ericksburg, sleeping on the ground, with an army rubber 
underneath and two army blankets on top, and 1 was not as 
cold as I was on Tuesday night in Havana. Mrs. S. did 
not go to Rockland in September; she remained with her 
sister in Boston while 1 started for Nova Scotia, and stopping 
at Rockland to call on friends I was weather-cornered for 
some five or six ch)ys, and turned l)ack toward sunny Cuba, 
having visited many places in and around Boston. We 
stopped at Newport three days, and three days in New 
York, whence we embarked October 22d on the Grand S. S. 
Mexico for Havana, where we arrived after a most agree- 
able trip, glad to be at liome again after our Bridal Tour 
among relatives and friends. Our voyage north was a 
stormy one, Mrs. S. and I in bed with seasickness two days 
and three nights. 'Twas a trip to be remembered always, 
and the most stormy of all the 60 to 90 which I have made 
since 1840 to and from the U. S. and Cuba. 

I note you have met Mr. Bradbury ; we are glad to hear 
of him, remembering as we do our pleasant whist parties 
at St. Auoustine. 



(128) 

We thank you for your kind invite to your three- score- 
and-ten Birthday Festival, and trust that you may have 
many happy returns of the same. You must not pose even 
there as an Old Party, as there are so many who can score 
you better still. Suppose we meet you at St. Louis and 
do the celebrating there and then, with both Prose and 
Poetry. Sorry you had not time to visit Hariy Haynes — 
they would have treated you right royally. Mrs, S. will 
remember you with a letter shortly — meantime she sends 
her kindest regards and hopes with me to hear from you 
again very soon. 

Truly 3^ours, 

J. R. Stanhope. 



Lowell, Mass., June 17th, 1904. 
Dear Mr. Lew is : 

Your kind invitation to visit you to celebrate 
your seventieth anniversary, received. I regret very much 
my inability to be present and join in the festivities, but 
send my greetings and hope everything will pass off pleas- 
antly. 

Yours truly, 

E. M. TucKE. 



Bridgton, July 9th, 1904. 
A. F. Lewis, 

Fryeburg, Maine, 
Dear Sir : 

Answering categorically your interrogatories of the 7th, 
upon the principal that the greater contains the less I fall 



(129) 

within your list, since I was born Deccni))er '2-2, 18o3— 
a "Mayliower"' day without "Mayflowers". 

Strong- prejudices are entertained hy nie on princi})le a- 
gainst my picture, hut ])erhaps I can find a photograph td 
.send you. 

Chronoh^gically considered I entered Bowdoin College, 
class of 1856, in the autumn of 1852, and transferred my- 
self to Yale College at the commencement of the Junior or 
third year of the course. Upon graduation I read law with 
Hon. D. R. Hastings of Lovell, and later with Fessenden & 
Butler of Portland ; practiced law at Anoka, Minnesota, a 
year, when I was summoned to Fryeburg to administer my 
little aid to my only and much beloved brother, Simeon C. 
Walker, who died in your village when only 33 years of 
age. I opened an office in your village immediately after his 
decease and there remained till the fall of 1861, when I as- 
sumed the law "^^ractice of Mr. Hastings at Lovell, and there 
practiced till the summer of 1881, when I removed to this 
place, where I have continued my practice. This in the 
substantial view is the whole of it. I may add in older to 
meet your inquiries that I have held only the following offic- 
ial positions,— to wit, that of Judge of Probate of Oxford 
county for about thirteen years, and of senator to the state 
legislature, two years. 

It certainly now seems impossible for any of us to be pres- 
ent at your Anniversary celebration, though we would much 
enjoy it were we not seriously and sadly clouded by 
the dispensation that has befallen my esteemed partner, the 
misfortune involving as it does sacrifice by no means ever 
anticipated by us. Neither Ned's nor my wife's physical 
condition will allow their presence, nor consistently that of 
Ned's wife, or of myself. 

Touching Judge Enoch Knight, I can say nothing as to 
where he and Mrs. Knight are. Excluding eulogy, I can 
say of him, that he attended the public school taught by me, 



(ISO) 

when '.ve-were buth ijuite young, that l)einu" my second 
school and J being 15 year.s old. He studied hiw as a pu}ul, 
with nie in Mr. Hustings' otEee. I cannot state his career at 
all, except to sny generally that he was conspicuous as a 
lawyer and so continues, and made himself prominent as a 
Portland judge. 

If 1 am reported at all please l)ear in mind that the least 
said about me in print, will best suit me. Fryeburg is my 
birth{)Iace. Let this be distinctly stated, as 1 am proud of 
it. Of other matters say as little as you can, for there is 
nothing to say. I cannot send you photograph of Judge 
Knight. Again thanking you for the invitation and ex- 
jiressing my profound regrets, I immeasurably regret the 
cause thereo.f. You will excuse me for sending you only a 
dictated letter executed by our stenographer. I congratu- 
late you and other septuagenarians fortunately continuing 
their good health, since without it life is only, comparative- 
ly, negative. 

Respectfully yours, 

A. H. Walker. 



Pembroke, N. H., July 22d, 1904. 
My dear friend Lewis : 

Your kind invitation to help you celebrate your 
seventieth anniversary is at hand, and in reply would say 
that it is barely possible that I may be with you for I am 
planning to visit my relatives in Lovell in August. Whether 
I may be present or absent, you have my congratulations 
and best wishes for at least fourscore years. 
Very truly and sincerely yours, 

Isaac Walker. 



(131) 

Grand Beach, Aug, 1st, 1904. 

My dear Mr. Lewis : 

I want to thank you for your kind letter, in- 
viting us all to come to Fryeburg and help celebrate your 
birthda3^ I am sorry that we shall not be able to be present, 
as the Doctor is very busy at this time. We all send cor- 
dial greetings and best wishes for many returns of the day. 

Most sincerely yours, 

Mary A. Weeks. 



Center Lovell, Maine, Aug. 6th, 1904. 

My dear Mr. Lewis : 

When your invitation to the happy celebration of your 
seventieth birthday reached us, we all thought, how pleas- 
ant it would be to join in the auspicious occasion. As it 
does not seem feasible now to be present in person, we 
would at least send our sincere wishes for the joyous cele- 
bration and the hope of many cheerful years to follow. 
On behalf of myself and family, 

Very cordially yours, 

J. E. Werren. 



(132) 

Conway, N. H., June 12th, 1904. 

My dear Mr. Lewis : 

Your unique and very interesting letter, or eircu- 
hir invitation to l)e present on the evening of Aug. 9th at 
the anniversary of your 70tli birthday, which occurs June 
23d, 1904, has been received. As one who entered a fourth 
of a score of years in advance of, or earlier than that date, 
I shall certainly be very happy to be present, and with my 
class assist in welcoming you to the summit of j^ears, where 
we having rested for the past live years, are now looking 
eastward towards the dawn of life and light, tracing with 
eyes somewhat dim with age the paths we have made, or 
the trails we have followed, reading as a pastime fitting our 
varying moods from memory's scrolls every important inci- 
dent, their record of pleasure or sorrow, happy antici- 
patii>ns realized, or bitter disappointments endured, all of 
which we have survived. 

We are none of us old by reason of the accumulation of 
years. The Psalmist's limit of "Three-score-and-ten-years" 
was a limit natural to human ambition for more of this 
world's goods than was needed for the remainder of years. 

I can have no doubt but you will have a lively time ; an 
individual experience of 70 years, multiplied by all of the 
Seventies present would njake a volume from which our 
present-day humorists could glean a fortune. 

Hoping that your anticipations of a good time may be 
fully realized, and that I may be present to enjoy it with 
you, 

I am yours sincerely, 

C. W. Wilder. 

To Alonzo F. Lewis, Esq., 
Fryeburg, Me. 



(133) 

Hotel Xutchell, Yoek Village, Me., 
August 9th, 1904. 
My dear Mi-. Lewis : 

Health, happiness and all good wishes to you 
on the day you celebrate. 

I wish I could be one of the happy party to enjoy the oc- 
casion with you, but that is impossible to-day. My con- 
gratulations are none the less hearty because of my absence. 
Time njust be touching you lightly. I cannot think of you 
as three-score-and-ten. May you live to complete your 
tive-score, happy in heart, vigorous in body anti strong in 
hope. 

Heartily yours, 

Frederick A. Wilson. 



Waltham, July 25, 1904. 

Dear Mr. Lewis : 

I thank you for your kind invitation, but I am 
some ten years ahead of you and past visiting, making 
speeches, or writing* poetry. 

Hoping you will have a very pleasant time. 

Yours truly, 

Benj. Worcester. 



(134) • 

The following letter, we regret, whs received too Itite to 
1)e printed in its proper place. The beautiful remembrance 
that came with it is highly prized — as it should be liy any 
one interested in Pequawket and its "First Families". 

My dear ISlr. Lewis : 

Here we are at home again in Fryebuig and I take the 
opportunity to express my thanks for your kind letter of in- 
vitation to your birthday celebration. I know I seem in- 
excusably remiss about this, but ''■qui s'excuse" does not al- 
ways '■^s'accuse", I hope — so let me say in extenuation that 
my last summer in Milwaukee was a very busy one. We 
had a constant stream of visitors and my time was so fully 
occupied (by them and in other ways) that I felt I had not 
leisure enough to write anything worthy of such a unique 
occasion. 1 congratulate you on the sutces;- and eclat with 
which it passed oif. 1 am told that Fryel)urg has had no 
reunion for many a year so enjoyable as that was. I hope 
there may be many happy anniversaries in store for you but 
doubt if you ever have another such red letter day as that 
memorable one just gone by. 

Knowing that you are versed in the annals of Pequawket 
and that you have a fondness for the old historic personages 
who once trod its soil I thought of you when I saw in a 
Milwaukee jeweller's store a spoon whose handle was dec- 
orated with the stern visage of the bold Paugus—1 thought, 
perhaps Mr. Lewis will accept this in place of a letter — as a 
slight token of my friendship and rememl)rance. I venture 
to send it at this late day, hoping that you will forgive my 
procrastination in replying to your kind letter. 

Thanking you also for your beautiful Byronic poem. 

Sincerely yours, 

Alice O. Hastings. 
Fryeburg, September 16th. 



(135) 



TELEGRAMS. 



Buffalo, N. Y., Aug. 9th, 1904. 

To A. F. Lewis, Fryeburg, Me. 

As I compose 
Neither poetry nor prose, 
I ask on this auspicious date, 
Permission to congratulate. 

Gen. Samuel M. Welch.* 



New York, Aug. 9th, 1904. 

To A. F. Lewis, Fryeburg, Me. 

Our hearty congratulations, 

'*For to the steadfast soul and strong. 

Life's Autumn is as June". 

Usher W. and Mary A. Cutts, 

and Wm. F. Ward. 



*See foot note on page 77. 



(136) 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



A* F. Lewis^ 

is the son of Jacob and Aljigail (Coolbroth) Lewis, and 
was ])orn June 23d, 1634, one mile from this village, in 
Ccmway, N. H., but has lived in Fryeburg nearly 50 years. 
His great grandfather, Joseph Lewis, was one of the early 
settlers of Pequawkett, having come to Fryeburg before the 
Revolution, settling on the S. W. shore of Lovewell's Pond. 
In early life Mr. Lewis spent four or five years in Concord, 
N. H. He was educated in the public schools and at Frye- 
burg Academy, where he fitted for college and entered 
Dartmouth in the class of '62 ; but owing to trouble with 
his eyes he was not able to complete his college course. He 
is fond of literature and to some extent has pursued a literary 
life — coupled with extensive travel in our own and in for- 
eign lands. He has been a correspondent of the Portland 
and Boston press, describing his travels at home and abroad. 
He was joint author with Luther L. Holden of an illustrated 
volume of travel of 650 pages entitled "A Summer Jaunt 
Through The Old World", published by Lee and Shepard 
in '79. He published "Webster's Fryeburg Oration," and 
"The Fryeburg Webster Memorial" in 'S2 ; and in 1902 he 
published "The Fryeburg Webster Centennial", containing 
his historical address upon AVebster, together with consid- 
erable other matter pertaining to Fryeburg and its interest- 
ing history. 

Mr. Lewis was upon the lecture platform several years 
describing his travels, speaking upon Rome, London, Cuba, 



(137) 

Salt Lake City and The Mormons, The Pacific Slope, and 
The Yoseniite, his lectures being- well received by tl.e })ul)- 
lic. He has spent several winters in Florida — one in Cuba, 
and the past four in Washington, where he has delivered 
addresses before the Society of The Sons and Daughters 
of Maine — also before the Society of The Sons and Daugh- 
ters of N. H., his native state. 

At a pul>lic meeting of the citizens of Fryeburg he pro- 
nounced a eulogy upon the late Pres. McKinley — and he 
made an address at the recent dedication of the new building 
of the Woman's Library Club of Fryeburg. He is a mem- 
ber of the Board of Trustees of Fryeburg Academy, having 
been Vice Pres. and Sec'y of that body many years. 

Mr. Lewis has never sought political honors through offi- 
cial position, although always taking a deep interest in 
[)ul)lic affairs. He was chosen a delegate to the Republican 
national convention which nominated James G. Blaine for 
Pres. at Chicago in '(S4. He is fond of music, and a stu- 
dent of history and antiquarian affairs. He is a member of 
the Me. Historical Society, an honorary member of the 
Webster Historical Society of Boston — also an honorai'y 
meml)er of the Columbia Institute of Tennessee. 



Genetal E. C. Farrington, 



is the son of Vere Royse and Hannah (Andrews Barker) 
Farrington, (daughter of John Barker), and grandson of 
Capt. Vere Royse, and was born in Fryeburg, July 28th, 
1834. He was educated in the common schools and at 
Fryeburg Academy. He married Emma C. Healy, of 
Warwarsing, N. Y., in 1859. Two children were born to 
them, Willie, and Margaret Vere, the well known writer. 



(138) 

He was a member of the House of Representatives of the 
legislature of Maine, from the Fryeburg district, in 1866, 
1869 and 1879. He was a member of the Maine State sen- 
ate in 1873 and 1874. A member of the Executive Coun- 
cil, in 1877 and 1878 ; a member of the State Valuation 
commission from Oxford county in 1880. He was appoint- 
ed upon the staff of governor Daniel F. Davis in 1880, with 
rank of colonel and made inspector general of rifle practice 
for the National Guard of Maine. He served u[)on the staff 
of every governor in that capacity until 1900, and retired 
with the rank of Brigadier General. He was appointed in- 
spector of customs, Portland district, in 1882, and served 
nearly five years. In 1889 he was appointed by governor 
Edwin C. Burleigh, clerk of the Railroad Commission of 
Maine, which position he now holds. In 1891 was elected a 
member of the Common Council of the city of Augusta, 
serving three consecutive years and is now a member of the 
board of aldermen. 



Wm. Got don, 

is the son of Stephen and Lydia (Chase) Gordon, and 
was born at W. Fryeburg, Oct. 10, 1834. He married 
Julia Anderson, Dec. 19, 1864, by whom he has three 
daughters, Fannie, who married Samuel Waterman, de- 
ceased, and Arvilla, who married Fred Pingree, and Mollie. 
Mr. Gordon has a variety of occupations, being a farmer, a 
surveyor of and dealer in lumber, auctioneer, chairman of 
Selectmen, and of assessors of Fryeburg Village Corpora- 
tion many years, and Post-Master under Cleveland's first 
term. He has lived in this village since 1870, and keeps a 
popular boarding house at his fine residence on Main street. 

[Many regrets were expressed that a business engagement 



(139) 

prevented Mr. Gordon's presence at the festival, and that 
thus they were deprived of one of his bright and breezy 
speeches.] 



Samuel Chase Gordon, 



twin brother of William, married Susanna Gamage Farring- 
ton, Dec. 30, 1868, by whom he has one daughter, Mary, 
who is an artist and lives with her father in their pleasant 
home on Elm Street. He lived in Conway nine years — and 
has been a resident of this village since the fall of '93. Mr. 
Gordon's princi])al business has been agriculture. 



Miss Olive J. Swan, 



is the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Perkins) Swan and 
great granddaughter of Lieut. Caleb Swan, one of Frye- 
burg's earliest settlers, and was born June 23, 1834, one 
mile from this village, at what is known as Swan's Falls. 
She was educated at Fryeburg Academy and devoted her 
time to teaching for quite a number of years. She has one 
brother and had one sister, Abbie, deceased, who married 
Eckley Ballard, the W. Oxford Register of deeds ; the 
brother lives in California. Miss Swan lived at her old 
home till 16 years ago, when she bought the old Amos J. 
Cook home and came to this village, where she has since 
resided, keeping a summer boarding house and a home for 
Academy students. 



(140) 

Miss Abby N. Page, 

is the daughter of Russell and Sophia Page, and great grand- 
dauo-hter of Col. David Pao;e, one of the seven men who 
first came to Pequawket. She was born in this village, 
Dec. od, 1834, where she has always lived, and is a gradu- 
ate of Fry eburg Academy. She has one sister, Hannah, 
who married Samuel Dexter of Maiden, Mass., and one 
brother, John N., recently deceased. 

Miss Page keeps the well-known boarding house on Main 
St., where she dispenses a generous hospitality. 



Mts, Julia, A. (Devine) Pagfe, 

daughter of Barnard and Mary (Swan) Devine was born 
one mile from this village, in E. Conway, N. H., June 26, 
1834. She married Chas. Page of E. Conway and has two 
daughters and one son. Mrs. Page is a sister of the late 
Lieut. Col. John D. Devine, U. S. A., and of the late Mary 
A. Randall, so long and well known in Fryeburg village 
where she had lived nearly 50 years. 



John Weston, 

is the son of Edward and Rachel (Ward) Weston, and was 
born in this village Jan. 13, 1834, He married Abby Glines 
of Eaton, N. H., by whom he had four children, Mary W., 
who married Wm. B. Post of this town, Susanna, Edward 
and George. He was educated at Fryeburg Academy, and 



(141) 

is a trustee of that institution. He has heen engaged in ag- 
riculture, lumbering, a large dealer in real estate, in horses, 
and live stock, sending a large amount of the latter to the 
Brighton market for nearly K) years. He has a beautiful 
home on the banks of the Saco, overlooking the valley, the 
river and the mountains. 



Bradley B. Woodward, 



son of Jacob and Mary (Blancliard) Woodward, was born in 
So. Lyndeborough, N. H., Fel). 28, 1834. With his parents 
he came to Conway at the age of nine years, and has since 
lived at the same place, one mile from this village. In 
1863 he went to California, remaining there two years. Jan. 
2d, 1866, he was married to Elizabeth Chase Page of Con- 
way, deceased, by whom he had three child^'en, Hattie F., 
Jacob Howard, and Mary E. Mr. Woodward has been 
Supervisor and Selectman of the town live j^ears, and Rep- 
resentative to the Legislature in 1888 and '89. He devotes 
the most of his time to farming. 



Jason Whitman Towie, 

is the son of Ira and Sail}' (Clement) Towle, and first open- 
ed his eyes to the light of day in Fryeburg, Aug. 28, 1834. 
His father destining him for the ministry, gave him the 
name of the distinguished Unitarian Divine. He was edu- 
cated at Fryeburg Academy and taught school successfully 
at home and in the West. While in the West he met Miss 



(142) 

Emma Shorb of Canton, O. Soon their hearts were inter- 
twined and mingled into one. In 18G2 they were married 
-tmd nine children have blessed their home. One died in in- 
fancy ; six lovely daughters and two sons gladden their hearts, 
and Jason with his three-score-years-and-ten wields fiddle 
and bow as in days of lang syne. 



Thos. Jefferson Allard, 



was born in Albany, N. H., Dec. 31st, 1834. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools and at Fryeburg Academy ; — 
was married to Mary J. Moulton in 1858, and they had sev- 
en children, four of whom are now living. He was chair- 
man of the board of selectmen in his native town 12 years, 
and four years represented his town in the N. H. legisla- 
ture. In early life he followed school teaching and railroad- 
ing, but has been engaged principally in agriculture. He 
has resided in Sandwich, N. H., Boston and Brownfield, 
Me., but is now a resident of Conway, N. H. He has been 
a life-lono; Democrat. 



George F. Booth, 

is the son of Benj. and Betsy (Downs) Booth, and was born 
in Madison, N. H., Nov. 7, 1834. He has lived in Den- 
mark and Brownfield, Me., and for the past 40 years in 
Fryeburg. He married Sarah J. Ela, and has three daugh- 
ters, Abigail, Susan and Sylvia. Mr. Booth is a cousin of 
Edwin Booth. His uncle Israel was an actor and travelling 



(]43) 

showman. Georg'e has much imitative and dramatic talent, 
and had he earlj^ trained his thoughts and life in that direc- 
tion might have become as eminent in the theatrical world 
as his distinauished cousin. 



Abel F» Sanborn, 



was l)orn Feb. 23d, 1834, on one of the most picturesque 
farms in Fryeburg, Me., and is the fifth son of Jonathan and 
Betsey (Lord) Sanborn. He lives at E. Fryeburg, where 
he was born, and still enjoys the fruits of an industrious 
and successful life. On Mar. 27th, 1859, he married Ame- 
lia Thompson of Limington, Me. Five children were born 
to them. The first two (twins) died in infancy. The third, 
Sewell T., died Jan. 6th, '97, aged 34. Frank M., Walter 
L., and two grandsons survive. 

Mr. Sanborn cared for his parents durino; their declinino- 
years, and succeeded to the farm which he has more than 
doubled in acreage and improvements through his capable 
and careful management. He is a Republican and a mem- 
ber of Fryeburg Lodge, I. O. O. F. He is a kind husband, 
indulgent father, loving friend and worthy citizen. 






offers instruction in the following subjects: 

Languages — English, French, German, Latin, Greek. 
Mathematics— Arithmetic, Algebra, Plane and Solid Geometry. 
History — Grecian, Roman, English, American and General. 
Sciences — Physical Geography, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Bot- 
any, Geology and Physiology. 

Commercial — Bookkeeping, Civics, Political Economy. 

Pedagogy— Psychology, Theory and Practice of Teaching, School 

Management, School Government, School Organization, His. 

tory of Education, etc. 

There are five courses of study: Classical, Literary, English Scien- 
tific, Business and Teachers Training. 

The Academy holds the "Certificate Privilege" of the N. E. Col- 
lege board. 

The English Scientific Course is designed to give a general edu- 
cation to those who do not intend to pursue their studies in higher 
schools. It is also a sufficient preparatory course for several Scientif- 
ic schools of New England. 

The Teachers Training Course is designed to meet the needs of 
those who expect to teach in our common schools. 

Alumni House. — This is a building recently added to the institu- 
tion by the alumni to be used as a dwelling house for girls. It is 
provided with electric lights bathroom and all the modern conven- 
iences. A matron has charge of the house as well as the girls who 
live in it. 

r Tuition, 17. per term. 

Expenses < Books sold at cost. 

{ Board and lodging in Alumni House, 

13.50 per week. 
(From Monday till Friday, f2.50.; 

The Fesseuden House has been purcha.sed and equipped for a dor- 
mitory for boys, board and lodging the same as at the Alumni House. 

Emerson l>. Adams, 

Fryebur^, Maine. 



Cash Fundjanuary 1,1904. $708,162.77 
Surplus over Re-Insurance, $455,776.74 

Losses Paid past year, $42,204.94 
Dividends Paid past year, $66,032.42 
Gain in Surplus past year, $12,383.04 

Gain in Gash Fund past year, $22,496.81 

AND EVERY LOSS PAID IN FULL» 

Amoit at mi $32,506,226,00 

Total LiaDlllties, $252,386,03 

Dividends Paid on every Expiring Policy; 60 per cent, 

on 5 years, 40 per cent, on 3 years, and 20 per cent. 

on all others. 

William H. Fay, Sec'y. 
Chas. A. Rowland, Pres't & Treas. 

Over $5000 paid in dividends to patrons of this Co., 
by A. Jr. LEWIS, A^ent. 



11 1£C5 



^•-^ 



In^ure A^oin^t Tire 



with- 



TRADERS & 



\\ 




INSURANCE CO., 



Of UOWCbU, MASS. 



Ox's^'Uized. 1840. 



G. C. Hutchinson, Pres., 



Edw. M. Tucke, Sec. & Treas. 



This Co. pays dividends of 20^ 40 and 60 per cent, 
on J, 3 and 5 year policies. 

Dividends paid J. & E. P. Weston, $350.92 ; C. T. Ladd, 

$250.11 ; Hon. L. R. Giles, $235.54; rryeburg Acad- 

• emy, $244.68 ; C. H. Tibbetts, $203.11 ; Fryeburg 

Village Corporation $71.55 ; Estate Eben 

Weeks, $225.99; A. & P. B. 

Young, $83.05. 

Over $5000 in dividends paid its patrons in this Co. by 



A. F. LEWIS, Agent, FRYEBURG, MAINE. 



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